(NSI News Source Info) March 8, 2009: The current Land 106 project will upgrade 431 M113 vehicles to improve armour protection, mobility, firepower and habitability. The Australian Government provided second pass approval for the project in June 2002 to upgrade 350 vehicles, and a contract was signed with Tenix Defence (now BAE Systems Australia Defence Pty Ltd (BAESAD) on 15 July 2002. 
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that formed the backbone of the US Army's mobile infantry units from the time of its introduction in the 1960s. It was partly replaced by the M2 Bradley which was one of many later vehicles designed from the outset to be more heavily armed and protected infantry fighting vehicle. Though it was never designed to serve as a light tank, the M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the US Army in the Vietnam War, earning the nickname 'Green Dragon' among the Viet Cong,as well as APC and ACAV (armored cavalry assault vehicle) by the allied forces, as it was used to break through heavy thickets in the midst of the jungle to attack and overrun enemy positions.
The M113 introduced new aluminum armor that made the vehicle much lighter and stiffer than earlier vehicles. This protected the crew and passengers against much of the small arms fire available to enemy infantry. Yet compared to heavier tanks, it had excellent cross-country performance and amphibious capabilities, while remaining airmobile. Its versatility led to it spawning a wide variety of adaptations that live on even in US service, representing about half of US Army armored vehicles today. To date, over *80,000 M113s of all types have been produced and used by over 50 countries worldwide, making it one of the most widely used armored fighting vehicles of all time. The Military Channel's "Top Ten" series named the M113 the most significant infantry fighting vehicle in history.
The Government approved the upgrade of a further 81 vehicles in October 2008 for Army’s Enhanced Land Force initiative and a contract change proposal was signed with BAESAD in December 2008.
Technical problems between 2002 and 2006 delayed completion of vehicle testing and the planned date for initial introduction into service was moved from December 2006 to November 2007, placing pressure on the overall project schedule. The vehicles began reliability testing in February 2007 and the testing was concluded on 11 May 2007.
“Despite the technical and schedule issues the project remains well within its budget and the only change in project cost since Government approval in 2002 has been for the additional 81 vehicles and for inflation or currency exchange rate variations,” said Bob Lumley, Director, M113 Upgrade Program.
43 of the production vehicles have now been accepted from Tenix/BAESAD and another 16 vehicles are on the production line. BAESAD is preparing its marine facilities in Williamstown, Victoria and its site at Wingfield, South Australia as additional locations for hull conversion to accelerate production.
“The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has considered a number of options to provide the capability that the Army requires. The upgrade of the M113 remains the most cost effective option for providing the highly mobile and protected capability,” says Mr Lumley. “The key features of the upgrade include applique armour, spall curtains, enhanced mine protection and a new armoured turret. All vehicles will have the capability to attach add on armour for increased protection.”
The upgraded vehicle is one of the best protected light armoured vehicles around the world.
The armour protection has been developed after extensive research by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). This represents a marked improvement in protection over the original M113 vehicle.
The DMO is now investigating potential survivability enhancements to be ready to adapt new protection measures if needed.
A U.S. Army armored M113 personnel carrier finds shelter in a Panama City laundramat. The use of heavy forces mounted in M113's were key to success in combat in the city, providing firepower, protection, and mobility.
