Updated 17 November 2024

Land Forces 2024

This year’s Land Forces show in Australia took place in Melbourne from 11-13 September. Security was tight as protestors thronged the area surrounding the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in an attempt to disrupt Australia’s premier army exhibition. These protestors were of many persuasions – some anti-war, others pro-Palestine and many anti-government, while others just seemed to be there to grind their axes. Nevertheless, their efforts did not interfere with the show, and perhaps the greatest threat after the opening morning was trying not to stand on the horse poo on the road from the police horses there.

The Australian Army displayed a brand spanking new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank, which had just rolled off a cargo ship in Melbourne’s port after being shipped from the USA. It was parked in front of an AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle and Boxer 8x8 combat reconnaissance vehicle, and all three vehicle types will make up the core of the army’s heavy armour brigade based in Townsville.

BAE Systems Australia has developed a knack for grabbing headlines with well-timed releases of new and innovative products. Last year at the Avalon Airshow it was the Stryx UAV, and this year it was the turn of the ATLAS 8x8 unmanned ground vehicle. ATLAS is an acronym for Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System. Of approximately ASLAV size, as it says on the tin, this vehicle is designed to perform missions such as advanced reconnaissance, armoured overwatch, flank protection and convoy escort. The example on display was armed with a 25mm Bushmaster cannon in a turret. It will be interesting to see how this platform develops and whether the Australian Army will eventually adopt it.