ausauto News Article

Army takes delivery of Merc G-Wagons

The Australian Defence Force has taken delivery of nine Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon cross-country vehicles, the first to be delivered on Australian soil, as part of a 1200-strong tactical fleet order placed by the ADF in October 2008.

Part of a national undertaking known as "Project Overlander", the vehicles include 4WD station wagons, 4WD cab-chassis units and 6WD units in both single and dual-cab chassis configuration.

All vehicles are powered by the German auto-maker's proven 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine, as fitted to many of the marque's passenger cars, SUVs and vans, and will be subjected to a rigorous test regime by the ADF prior to full production later this year.

Specific models will be fitted with specialist modules built by Newcastle engineering firm G. H. Varley, one of the oldest firms in the Hunter region of NSW.

Established in 1890, the company has more than 400 employees in locations across Australia and in Indonesia.

Projects include military aerospace, defence product development, innovative specialised vehicles, electric vehicles and cost effective procedures to refurbish operating plant.

The ADF recently tested a range of Mercedes-Benz trucks including the latest armoured Unimog, four and six wheel variants of the Zetros truck and the massive armoured 8x8 Actros, nicknamed Optimus Prime by Canadian soldiers on deployment after the animated Transformer character.