Kawasaki goes khaki

30 Kawasaki MULE 3010 Diesel 4X4 Utility Vehicle will be modified for use by the ADF in areas of combat and active duty throughout the world.

Dubbed the 'Javelin All Terrain Vehicle Transport Vehicle', the project began with discussions between the primary supplier, Aitken Motorcycles, and the Australian Defence Forces. A year later, the contracts were signed and the first Kawasaki MULE 3010 Diesel 4X4 Utility Vehicle was ready to dispatch.

2 MULEs have been sent to the Army's Accredited Test Service Proving Ground in Monegeetta, VIC to be used as prototypes. Modifications include the addition of purpose-built boxes to carry 2 Javelin Missiles and a sighting unit to fire them, as well as infrared lights that will enable the MULE to be driven in the dark with infrared goggles, keyless ignition, rifle stows, winch, stretcher, as well as lifting eyes and tie downs for airlifting.

The MULE was seen as the perfect platform for the Javelin system, and the fact that it also uses the same JP8 tech diesel fuel as the majority of ADF vehicles was another factor in its selection.