A new support center for Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles of the Australian Defense Force has been opened by Thales Australia.

A new facility in Townsville, Queensland, will supplement the company's main Bushmaster support center at Eagle Farm, Queensland, and also the protected vehicles manufacturing facility in Bendigo, Victoria, the company said.

"We are committed to providing the best support for the Bushmaster fleet around the country, and our investment in this new facility will deliver convenient services close to a major Army base," said Kevin Wall, Thales Australia's Protected Vehicles vice president.

Maj. Gen. Paul McLachlan, head of Land Systems at the Defense Materiel Organization, officially opened the center during a special ceremony.

Bushmaster PMVs are armed armored vehicles that carry nine soldiers in addition to the driver. Depending on the variant, they weigh between 27,300 pounds and about 33,000 pounds. Their range is 497 miles.

Additional details on the new support facility were not disclosed.