14:22 GMT, March 12, 2010 Vienna (defpro.com) | Yesterday, two investments of the Austrian Army (Bundesheer) have been at the centre of attention at the military arsenal in Vienna, Austria: Defence Minister Norbert Darabos handed over new JCB backhoe loaders worth €1.3 million to the Army. Furthermore, two GMF IVECO LMV armoured multi-purpose vehicles, which are scheduled for delivery to the Bundesheer in 2010, were presented on this occasion.

“Against all Cassandra calls, the Bundesheer will invest into new equipment. Within the scope of the available budget, the focus will definitely be placed onto infrastructure and equipment for the troops,” said Defence Minister Norbert Darabos. In this process, the equipment of the engineer corps is of particular importance, the Minister explained.


New backhoe loaders

The 8.5-tons heavy JCB Sitemaster Servo 4CX backhoe loader will be used as a universal asset for construction tasks of the engineer forces. The Bundeswehr requires heavy equipment, In particular for disaster relief operations, for instance to remove the effects of moraines or log jams.

The new equipment will provide a fast and effective support for the construction of makeshift bridges in disaster relief or other operations. Its comprehensive range of possible applications and its mobility, provided by the shiftable all-wheel drive, make it an indispensible asset for the engineer corps.

The loaders, worth a total of €1.3 million will now be transferred to the Engineer Battalions in Villach, Melk and Salzburg as well as to the training areas in Allentsteig and Seetaleralpe.


Armoured multi-purpose vehicles

For more than €100 million the Army, furthermore, procures 150 GMF IVECO LMV armoured multi-purpose vehicles of which two vehicles were presented yesterday. The multi-purpose vehicles will be used in different configurations for reconnaissance, observation, command and control as well as for military police tasks, for instance.

The vehicles provide a high level of mobility and protection against ballistic threats such as small arms and mines as well as against chemical agents. “This high-value investment is a further step towards equipping the troops with state-of-the-art vehicles, providing a high level of personnel protection and good mobility,” the Minister said. The first vehicles are scheduled to be delivered to the Army in late 2010.

(Translation of the official press release by defpro.com, nvk)