List of equipment of the Australian Army

This is a list of the equipment currently used by the Australian Army.

Individual equipment

Uniforms

Assault rifles and carbines

Precision rifles

Machine guns

Pistols

Submachine guns

Shotguns

Grenade launchers

Anti-armour

Mortars

Grenades and anti personnel mines

Bayonets

Armoured Vehicles

Utility, reconnaissance and support vehicles

Artillery

Air defence

Aircraft

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Watercraft

Future equipment

Infantry weapons

The Army has begun to roll out the Enhanced F88 Austeyr (EF88) to replace the F88 Austeyr. The new rifle has several new features including improved modularity featuring extended accessories rail, a fixed barrel, bolt catch release and a black paint scheme. In July 2015, the ADF ordered 30,000 EF88 rifles and 2,277 Steyr Mannlicher SL40 grenade launchers. The roll out of the EF88 was scheduled to begin in July 2016 commencing with 3rd Brigade and other Townsville-based units, then in 2017 7th Brigade and other southeast Queensland units and from 2018 to 2021 1st Brigade and others. In July 2020, a second order was placed for an additional 8,500 rifles for the Army Reserve 2nd Division. The Army acquired more than 500 suppressors for the EF88 that were manufactured by Oceania Defence for regular infantry battalions which were rolled out from May 2021.

In November 2021, Defence Technology Review reported that Thales Australia in collaboration with the Army were developing a next-generation individual weapon in bullpup configuration chambered for the 6.8 mm calibre similar to the US Next Generation Squad Weapon program.

LAND159

The Lethality System Project – LAND159 is a Defence project that will equip the ADF with next-generation weapon systems, along with, related ancillaries, ammunition, facilities and training and support. In July 2020, NIOA was selected as the Prime contractor to deliver Stage 1 of Tranche 1 to approach market and identify and evaluate the Tranche 1 capabilities: the ADF Sniper System and the Close Combat System. The ADF Sniper System consists of a medium-range anti-personnel sniper, a long-range anti-personnel sniper, an anti-materiel sniper, a sniper surveillance capability and a ‘Sniper Soldier Combat Ensemble'. The Close Combat System consists of a Hand-To-Hand Fighting Weapon System, a sidearm weapon system, Personal Defence Weapon (PDW) system, a combat shotgun system and an assault breeching system.

In September 2022, Defence announced that the following Tranche 1 weapons had been selected:

• Hand-To-Hand Fighting Weapon System: ZU Bladeworx’s H2HFW Double-Edged Fighting Knife;
• Combat shotgun system: the Benelli M3A1 to replace the in service Remington 870;
• Sidearm Weapon System: SIG Sauer P320 XCarry Pro to replace the ageing Browning Hi-Power
• Personal Defence Weapon System: SIG Sauer MCX in .300 Blackout (.300 BLK)
• Assault Breaching System: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense’s Rapid Wall Breaching Kit (RWBK)
• Long range sniper capability: Accuracy International AX-SR multi-calibre (in .338 Lap Mag, .300 Norma Mag and 7.62mm NATO)
• Anti-Materiel Sniper Capability: Barrett M107A1 in .50 BMG to replace the in-service M82A1
• Sniper Surveillance Capability: The Safran JIM Compact Multispectral Binoculars

In September 2022, NIOA was selected as the Prime Contractor for Stage 2 of Tranche 1 signing a contract to work with local and international suppliers and weapon manufacturers on the acquisition, integration, delivery and ongoing support of the new weapon systems selected earlier in stage 1, from 2023.

In July 2023, the ADF placed the first A$30 million order for SIG Sauer P320 X-Carry Pro pistols as selected for the Sidearm Weapon System to replace the Hi-Power. The pistols will be equipped with a SIG ROMEO2 Red Dot Sight and SIG FOXTROT2 Weapon Light.

Artillery

Under LAND 8113, the Army will acquire 42 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to provide fire support up to 300 kilometres (190 mi). The munitions the Army will procure include: M30A1, M30A2, M31A1, M31A2 and XM403 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) and the M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). The HIMARS will incorporate a weapon locating radar from CEA Technologies. The government implemented the April 2023 Defence Strategic Review recommendation that LAND 8113 Phases 2-4 be accelerated and expanded.

In July 2021, the Army became a partner in the US Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program that is developing a surface-to-surface precision-strike guided missile with a range of over 400 kilometres (250 mi). The US Army has reported that the M142 HIMARS will be able to fire the PrSM.

Under LAND 8116 Phase 1, the Army will acquire 30 AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzers based on the South Korean Hanwha K9 Thunder together with 15 AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (AARV) to be built in Geelong in Victoria with deliveries expected in 2025. Under Land 8116 Phase 2, the Army would have received additional Huntsmans to form a second regiment. The government implemented the April 2023 Defence Strategic Review recommendation to cancel Phase 2.

In 2017, NIOA and Rehienmettal were selected as the prime contractors for LAND 17 Phase 1C.2 - Future Artillery Ammunition program to supply the Australian Army a suite of advanced Assegai155mm munitions. The program has also re-established a domestic forging capability with a shell forging factory in Maryborough, Queensland as joint venture through Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM), with first rounds being produced in 2022, and exports in 2023. The Assegai fleet was chosen for a number of factors, including increased safety with the choice of insensitive HE rounds, enhanced lethality, extended range, and higher precision. This accomplished by ballistically matched rounds, requiring no change in firing tables when firing different capabilities, allowing faster more accurate follow up fire, in addition all rounds are fitted with a boat-tail assembly that can be replaced for a base-bleed unit increase the maximum range by 30% (which is over 30km for the 39-calibre M777A2 in service). The Assegai fleet being acquired includes: conventional HE, Insensitive Munition High Explosive (IHE), IHE Pre-Fragmented (PFF), Smoke, Visual and Infrared illumination and Extended Range Velocity Enhance (V-LAP), practice and inert projectiles; propelling charges, fuzes and boat tail and base bleed tail assemblies. The Assegai ammunition is qualified for use in all NATO 39 and 52 calibre 155mm guns. The first delivery of Assegai ammunition occurred in 2019.

Air defence

Under LAND 19 Phase 7B, the RBS 70 Short Range Ground Based Air Defence system will be replaced by the enhanced National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), with CEA Technologies Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, and the AN/AAS-52 Multispectral Targeting System (MTS-A). The system comprises a CEA Operational (CEAOPS) AESA search radar, fitted on a Rheinmetall HX77 truck, a 5m telescoping mast and housing mounted on a Hawkei PMV, and a Kongsberg Fire Distribution Centre (FDC), mounted on a HX40M truck together with a Mk2 canister launcher. The system also has a smaller, mobile CEA Tactical (CEATAC) AESA fire-control radar fitted to a Hawkei PMV, and a high-mobility launcher (HML) fitted to the Hawkei PMV. The Mk2 canister launcher and the high mobility launcher will be configured to launch the AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). An initial order of two batteries, consisting of a number of canisters and/or HML, a MTS-A EO/IR, FDC and a CEATAC; was placed in June 2019 with initial operational capability scheduled for 2022-23.

Anti-ship

Under LAND 4100 Phase 2, a deployable land-based anti-ship missile capability will be acquired. Kongsberg Defence Australia and Thales Australia are offering the StrikeMaster a Naval Strike Missile system based on the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle utility variant. Lockheed Martin is offering a M142 HIMARS system with the AGM-158C LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile). The Defence Strategic Review released in April 2023 recommended that the program be accelerated and expanded.

Armoured vehicles

Under LAND 121 Phase 4 in December 2011, the Thales Hawkei PMV (Protected Military Vehicle) was selected as the preferred tender for the Army's requirement of a light 4x4 armored car with a potential order for 1300 vehicles. The seven-tonne Hawkei has been described as a 'baby' variant of the Bushmaster having been developed by the same manufacturer.

Under LAND 400 the ASLAV and M113s will be replaced, with the project to acquire a Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), a Manoeuvre Support Vehicle (MSV) and an Integrated Training System (ITS). The ASLAV fleet is planned to be replaced from 2020, and the M113s from 2025. On 19 February 2015 the tender was opened for the replacement of the ASLAV, listing a requirement for up to 225 armored vehicles to provide the future mounted combat reconnaissance capability. The remaining requirements of the project will be confirmed by the upcoming Defence White Paper; however, it is expected to include an infantry fighting vehicle—a capability currently only partly provided by the in-service M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier—as well as a manoeuvre support vehicle, and an integrated training system. The project has since been scaled back with a 2023 Defence Strategic Review announcement that the armoured vehicle acquisitions would be reduced to accommodate a quicker acquirement of the land-based anti-ship missile system amongst other projects.

Under LAND 907 Phase 2 the M1A1 Abrams will be upgraded to the M1A2 through replacement. In January 2022, the government announced that the Army will acquire 75 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams and six M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles which will be delivered from 2024. Under Land 8160 Phase 1, the Army is reviving the Combat Engineering Vehicle capability lost with the Leopard tanks and will acquire twenty-nine M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles and seventeen M1074 Joint Assault Bridges to be delivered from 2024.

Aircraft

The Army is replacing its fleet of ARH Tiger attack and MRH-90 Taipan utility helicopters earlier than planned. The ARH Tiger was scheduled to receive a A$1–2 billion mid-life upgrade in the late 2010s and was planned to be operated into the 2030s. The 2016 Defence White Paper stated the Tiger would be replaced in the mid-2020s and cancelled the mid-life upgrade instead the Tiger is to receive a A$500–750 million upgrade. In January 2021, under LAND 4503 Phase 1 the government announced that the Army will purchase 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian to replace the 22 Tigers from 2025. In January 2014, the Army commenced retiring the fleet of 34 S-70A-9 Black Hawks from service and had planned for this to be completed by June 2018 to be replaced by 41 MRH-90 Taipans. The Chief of Army delayed the retirement of 22 Black Hawks until 2021 for the 6th Aviation Regiment due to issues operating the MRH-90 in a special operations role. On 10 December 2021, the Black Hawk was retired from service. On the same day, amid issues with the MRH-90 Taipans the Australian government announced that they would be replaced by UH-60M Black Hawks. The MRH-90 was planned to be retired in 2037. In August 2022, the US approved a Foreign Military Sale of 40 UH-60Ms to Australia. In January 2023, the Army announced under LAND4507 Phase 1 the acquisition of 40 UH-60Ms with deliveries commencing in 2023. In September 2023, the MRH-90 was retired from service earlier than originally planned following a fatal crash in July 2023 during Exercise Talisman Sabre in which four Australian Army aircrew lost their lives; this followed a previous, emergency ditching in March 2023, in waters off Jervis Bay due to an engine failure (likely caused by a software issue). The MRH-90 had been planned to be retired in December 2024. The first UH-60Ms were delivered in August 2023. In 2024, the Australian government announced that it would lease 5 H135T3 helicopters from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for five years to maintain "essential training requirements" for Army pilots. The helicopters designated Juno HT.1s in the UK will be based at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In May 2023, the Australian Defence Force ceased using Chinese made DJI drones because of security concerns. The Army had operated a fleet of DJI Phantom 4 drones since 2018. In January 2024, the Department of Defence's Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) established the "Sovereign UAS Challenge" awarding 11 Australian companies a total of A$1.2 million to develop prototype drones.

Watercraft

Under LAND 8710, the Army will replace its fleet of LCM-8s and LARC-Vs and also acquire two new types of watercraft. In Phase 1A, the LCM-8s will be replaced by the Landing Craft – Medium (LC-M) (previously referred to as the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium (LMV-M)). The Army will acquire 18 LC-M which will be steel-hulled and have the capability to carry 80 tonnes of payload over 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at sea state 4 and full payload 500 nautical miles (930 km; 580 mi) while retaining 20% fuel reserves. In November 2023, the Birdon Group LC-M design was selected to be built by Austal. In Phase 1B, the LARC-Vs will be replaced by up to 18 LMV-As the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Amphibious (LMV-A). In Phase 2, the Army will acquire the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Heavy (LMV-H) to be called Landing Craft - Heavy (LC-H). The LC-M and LMV-A were to enter service from 2026. The Defence Strategic Review released in April 2023 recommended that the acquisition of the LC-M, the LMV-A and the LC-H be accelerated and expanded. In Phase 3, the Army will acquire an armed Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Patrol (LMV-P).

Summary

This list includes equipment currently on order or a requirement which has been identified:

• LAND 4503 Phase 1 replacement program is set to replace the Tiger ARH helicopter with the Boeing AH-64E Guardian helicopter.
• LAND 19 Phase 7B replacement program is set to replace the RBS-70 Short Range Ground Based Air Defence system with the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS).
• LAND 4100 Phase 2 will acquire a deployable land-based anti-ship missile capability.
• LAND 121 Phase 4 will acquire 1,100 Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicles–Light (PMV-L).
• The Bushmaster PMV in the 2016 Defence White Paper is to be replaced beginning in 2025 by a new platform.
• LAND 400 Phase 2 replacement program is set to replace the existing 257 ASLAVs with 211 Boxers.
• LAND 400 Phase 3 replacement program is set to replace 431 M113AS3/4 APCs.
• LAND 907 Phase 2 replacement program is set to replace the M1A1 Abrams with M1A2 SEPv3.
• LAND 8113 will acquire 42 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
• LAND 8710 Phase 1A replacement program is set to replace the LCM-8 with the Landing Craft – Medium (LC-M).
• LAND 8710 Phase 1B replacement program is set to replace the LARC-V with the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Amphibious.
• LAND 8710 Phase 2 will acquire the Landing Craft - Heavy (LC-H).
• LAND 8710 Phase 3 will acquire the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Patrol.
• The Army has outlined in the 2016 Defence White Paper a need for enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. With this, they plan to acquire a fleet of armed, medium-range unmanned aerial vehicles along with regular capability updates. They will provide enhanced firepower and ISR as well as a counter-terrorism ability overseas. They will also assist in humanitarian and relief missions.
• LAND 8116 Phase 1 will acquire AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzers.
• LAND 4507 Phase 1 replacement program is set to replace the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter with the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

References

External links

• Manufacturing process of the F88 rifle – Army News, 6 September 2007.
• "Improving In-Service Small Arms Systems – An Australian Experience" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center (dtic.mil). Thales Australia Limited. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2012.