Hawkei

The Hawkei is a light 4x4 protected mobility vehicle designed to provide a high level of protection against blast and ballistic threats. It is intended to replace a portion of the Australian Army's Land Rover fleet and offers enhanced survivability and mobility for various missions.

Developed by Thales Australia under Project Land 121 Phase 4, the Hawkei was designed to meet the Australian Defence Force's need for a highly mobile, light armored vehicle capable of rapid aerial deployment via CH-47F Chinook helicopters. Following extensive trials, the vehicle was approved for full-rate production in 2020 and officially entered active service with the Australian Army in 2021. While primarily operated domestically for training and security, Australia committed several Hawkei units to Ukraine in 2023 to assist in their defense against Russian forces, marking its first major international transfer. Today, over 1,100 Hawkeis have been manufactured at the Bendigo facility in Victoria, establishing the vehicle as a cornerstone of Australia's modern light tactical fleet.