Project | Explanation | |
Background | The Overlander Project is a multi-phased Project that will provide the ADF with the FVM&T and associated support it requires beyond the life of type of the current assets in order to meet ADF mobility requirements. Phase 3 will acquire and support a new range of Military-Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) vehicles, along with associated trailers and integrated modules to replace the ADF's current FVM&T capability. In Australia and in operational theatres FVM&T fleets are used on a day-to-day basis to perform a range of roles including logistic distribution, command and liaison, casualty evacuation, troop lift, and the provision of mobility to specialist assets such as command shelters and communications terminals. Support contracts will be established with each original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to ensure support to the FVM&T throughout their service life (support contracts have an initial term and options for extension). Support services covered by the support contracts include: Configuration Management, Engineering Support, Maintenance Support, Supply Support, and Quality Management. Overlander represents one of Army's largest capital programs. Although the Australian Regular Army is the principal operator and beneficiary of the capability, the Army Reserve and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will also benefit from the new FVM&T. The ADF's existing FVM&T fleet consists of some 7,300 vehicles and 3,700 trailers acquired progressively from 1959. In 2008, 98% of the current assets had exceeded their life of type and are increasingly costly to maintain, repair and operate. Furthermore, heavy operational usage since 1999 has increased the challenge of sustaining an aging fleet. The new FVM&T fleet will see rationalisation of vehicle types and numbers. A contract was signed with Mercedes Benz Australia Pacific (MBAuP) in October 2008 for the provision of 1,200 Light/Lightweight (LLC) vehicles and 315 Modules. In April 2010 a contract was signed with Haulmark Trailers for the provision of 973 LLC trailers (LLT) (plus six prototypes trailers) as part of the total Phase 3 requirement of up to 2,888 trailers. In October 2007, BAE Systems was announced as the preferred tenderer to provide the Medium Heavy Capability (MHC) requirement. BAE Systems had recently acquired the original tenderer, Stewart & Stevenson, and its offer provided Stewart & Stevenson's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). The risks identified with the FMTV vehicles during vehicle testing were greater than anticipated. In order to de-risk the project prior to contract signature Defence decided to remove BAE Systems' status as preferred tenderer and invite the other tenderers back into the process. The MHC tender resubmission process comprised of two stages. The first stage saw the release of the amended Conditions of Tender in December 2008, and vehicle Comparative Evaluation Testing (CET) to inform the down selection of tenderers to proceed to Stage 2. In February 2010 Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific and Thales Australia were announced as the down selected tenderers to proceed to Stage2 of the resubmission process. Stage 2 of the resubmission process commenced with release of the amended RFT to the three down selected tenderers in May 2010. The tender closed on 17 August 2010 and evaluation was completed on 30 November 2010. The source selection recommendation is currently being considered and a decision is expected to be announced in late 2011. Final MHC vehicle and trailer numbers are dynamic and will depend on the final negotiated contract prices. | |
Uniqueness | Overlander is to roll-out the FVM&T capability to multiple locations throughout Australia and on operational service overseas. This presents a unique logistic challenge in having a robust Support System that will achieve stated availability requirements for the lowest life cycle cost. | |
Major Challenges | LLC: Challenges include the integration of the new generation Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) systems into production vehicles and modules. MHC: Challenges during the vehicle acquisition process include protection requirement changes resulting from operational lessons; and affordability of the full capability within a capped budget. The project will also be challenged by the need to acquire and integrate a range of developmental modules. | |
Other Current Projects/Sub- | Land | Land 121 Phase 2A addresses capability shortfalls within the current field vehicle and trailer fleet. Phase 2A is an "umbrella project" for six separate sub-projects. This Project is due to be closed in December 2011 with the final product delivered in December 2010. |
Land | Land 121 Phase 4, currently post First Pass Approval, proposes to provide the ADF with a light Protected Mobility Vehicle capability (PMV-L), which will serve as the platform for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities. It is envisaged that the PMV-L system will consist of up to four vehicle types. The vehicles will also be acquired with matched trailers and two module types, which will be fitted to the utility variant. | |
Land | Land 121 Phase 5, currently at the Pre-First Pass Approval Stage, has been added to Land 121 in order to provide the ADF with vehicles for tactical training within the "raise, train and sustain" functions. As part of the development of Defence White Paper 2009 Land 121 Phase 5 was split into Phase 5A (LLC segment) and Phase 5B (MHC segment). | |