28 Mei 2010
Land 400 will replace and enhance those combat systems currently enabled by M113, ASLAV and Bushmaster in order to meet the challenges posed by the 2020+ environment. (photo : Defencetalk)
The Department of Defence (DoD) has dispatched a request for information (RFI) in support of its requirement to procure a range of vehicles intended to deliver the Australian Army's future combat capability.
A solicitation document for Project Land 400, which is valued at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, was issued by the DoD on 5 May and states that interested parties must respond before 7 June.
In his accompanying letter to potential respondents, BRIG Mal Rerden, who is DG Land Development, says that, commencing with Phase 2A, the Land 400 Combined Arms Fighting System project aims to replace this country's existing combat vehicle fleets.
The acquired future combat vehicle system is expected to comprise differing variants and undergo a phased procurement over the life of the project.
Land 400 will replace and enhance those combat systems currently enabled by M113, ASLAV and Bushmaster (life-of-type around 2020) in order to meet the challenges posed by the 2020+ environment.
Land 400 will be central to the future Army's ability to manoeuvre to detect and defeat threats by stand-off attack and/or by close combat, operating within complex environments, while ensuring survivability of own forces.
Land 400 will pursue a ‘system of systems', rather than a platform replacement, approach to deliver the Army's future combat capability.
The information received as a result of the RFI from various industry sources, from a system, platform and sub-system perspective, will allow Land Development Branch to undertake detailed analysis to support more informed decision-making on capability, cost and schedule.
This input will form the basis of the First Pass Business Case to be considered by Government in 2012.
This RFI wants specific pricing but indicates neither quantities nor an operational context and is a far cry from its 2006 predecessor.