Final M113 vehicle rolls off the line at Bandiana

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• published: 20 Nov 2012
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BAE Systems Land and Integrated Systems Director Kim Scott handed Major General Grant Cavenagh a set of keys at the event to symbolise the completion of the last M113 production vehicle at Bandiana. More than 150 people attended to recognise the end of a decade long project to upgrade 431 M113s. Over the life of the project, more than 1000 people were involved in the project at three sites in two states -- Bandiana and at Williamstown in Victoria and Wingfield in South Australia. More than a million hours went into the project which included cutting and stretching the hulls and the design and integration of new sub-systems into the seven M113 vehicle variants. Mr Scott said that while the upgraded M113s looked similar to how they would have in the 1970's, they were 'a generational leap ahead' with improved firepower, protection and habitability from the original M113 A1 vehicle. The finished vehicles are also more reliable and faster following the upgrade. The project began in 2002, with the first completed vehicle delivered to the customer in January 2007. "It has been an enormously challenging project but one that has resulted in the final vehicle being completed well ahead of the contracted December 2012 deadline" said Mr Scott said.