Will the Current Solution Survive the Future Battlespace? an Examination of the Combatant Role of the Australian Army's Protected Mobility Capability

In 1994 the Australian Army purchased 347 Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV) in a bid to develop a Motorized Infantry Capability. The IMV, a four wheeled armored vehicle, was designed and developed to provide organic protected mobility to an infantry section. The development of this capability was aimed at remediating an assessed shortfall in the Australian Army's ability to move light infantry forces rapidly, with adequate armored protection. This capability was developed to support Australia's continental defense policy, however, within a decade of procuring the IMV, the Australian Army found itself thrust into the modern era of persistent conflict, facing non-state actors who possess a level of lethality never envisaged by Australian defence planners. The Bushmaster was pressed into service to provide a Protected Mobility Capability (PMC), which enabled the deployment of light infantry in environments well beyond those envisioned for the motorized infantry. As the lethality and complexity of the modern operating environment continue to evolve, the Australian Army's in-service capabilities will continue to be challenged. This thesis will examine the emerging role of the Australian Army's PMC in the evolving operational environment to 2030 when the next generation of armored capability is due to enter service.