The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has taken delivery of
its first new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon cross-country vehicles - the first to be
delivered on Australian soil.
These first locally delivered vehicles, nine in total, follow
on from the initial hand-over of the first two units at the G-Wagon’s
factory in Austria, which took place late last year.
All eleven vehicles so far delivered are
part of the 1200-strong tactical fleet order placed by the ADF in October
2008, a national undertaking known as “Project Overlander”. As planned, all
vehicle units delivered to-date have been both on time and budget.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon military
vehicles being delivered to the ADF include:
- Four-wheel-drive station wagons;
- Four-wheel-drive cab-chassis units;
- Six-wheel-drive units in both single- and dual-cab
chassis configuration
All vehicles are powered by the German auto-maker’s proven
3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine, the popular powerplant fitted to many of
the marque’s passenger cars, SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) and vans.
Specific models will be fitted with
specialist modules built by Australian engineering firm G. H. Varley, and
all model variants are being subjected to a rigorous test regime by the
Australian Defence Force prior to full production later this year.
Mercedes-Benz will also provide an
armour-kit that can be fitted should armoured protection be required.
The delivery of these G-Wagons continues
Mercedes-Benz’s long involvement with the Australian Defence Force, which
includes the delivery and support of Unimog cross-country trucks, Actros 8x8
fuel tankers, buses and vans.
Mercedes-Benz also recently participated in the ADF’s trial
of medium and heavy trucks. The ADF tested a range of Mercedes-Benz trucks
including the latest armoured Unimog, four- and six-wheel variants of the
Zetros truck, and the massive armoured 8x8 Actros (nicknamed ‘Optimus Prime’
- the animated “Transformer” character - by Canadian soldiers on
deployment).
Retail customers will be able to take delivery of the
tough G Wagon later in 2010. More details will be released closer to local
launch.
2nd February 2010
