$350m wagon deal Armour's combat testing

http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_army.xml

The ADF has ordered 1200 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons under a $350m contract to replace the ADF's Land Rover fleet.

The signing ceremony for the contract took place on October 29 during the Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.

The two-tonne all-terrain G-Wagons will meet the light-wieght/light-capability segment of Land 121 Project Overlander, the Army's largest-ever project.

The name G-Wagon comes from the German "Gelande-Wagon", which means cross-country vehicle. Many G-Wagons will come with interchangable specialist modules and trailers, which will reduce the need for purpose-built specialist vehicles.

The modules include personal or cargo transport, ambulance, command and control, and even a version for military dogs..

Six different types will be aquired: a 4x4 general purpose station wagon, two 4x4 cargo variants, a 6x6 cab-chassis variant, a 6x6 dual cab truck, and a 6x6 specialist surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle.

(For the tech-heads)
TECHNCAL SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: 2.8L V-6 turbocharged intercooled.
FUEL: Diesel.
FUEL CAPACITY: 96 Litres
RANGE: 800km (fully laden 6x6 towing a fully laden trailer)
SPEED: 120kpa on road fully laden
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 4600kg 4x4, 6500kg 6x6.