[Israel]: Message to Australia

[Zak]

STATE OF ISRAEL​

Dear Senator John Faulkner,

I am writing to express interest for considering a limited production licensing arrangement for the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) for potential use by the Israeli Ground Forces as an armoured troop carrier and protected ambulance platform.

The Bushmaster PMV has established a strong reputation for crew protection, mobility, and reliability across a range of operational environments. Its proven survivability and adaptability make it a compelling candidate for both personnel transport and medical evacuation roles.

A limited production license could provide a framework for cooperation while ensuring that Australian export controls and all applicable domestic and international legal obligations are fully respected. Such an arrangement could also support industrial collaboration, sustain Australian defence expertise, and strengthen bilateral defence cooperation where consistent with Australia's foreign policy and export licensing decisions.

Any proposal should be subject to Australia's established defence export assessment processes, including consideration of strategic, legal, humanitarian, and national security factors. These existing mechanisms provide the appropriate framework for evaluating whether any future agreement would be in Australia's national interest and consistent with its international obligations.

Thank you for your consideration of this perspective. I appreciate the important role the Australian Government plays in balancing defence cooperation with its legal and policy responsibilities

Kind Regards,
Benny Gantz
Minister of Defence
State of Israel

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Owen

 

[Owen]

​

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET​

22 April 2009

Dear Minister Gantz, Thank you for your interest in the Bushmaster platform. This platform has proved its worth in service with the Australian Defence Force and is one of the world's leading protected mobility vehicles. All enquiries for foreign military sales should be directed to the Australian Defence Export Office. Note, we do not routinely allow the issuing of production licences to Australian defence companies to undertake production overseas, in keeping with the idea that Australian defence industry jobs need to be kept in Australia. However, I'm certain there wouldn't be any problem with the sale of the Bushmaster platform to Israel upon completion of the appropriate paperwork. Yours sincerely, John Faulkner.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

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Zak