Netherlands orders 14 more Bushmaster protected vehicles

The Netherlands defense force has great need of extra Bushmaster protected patrol vehicles for its ISAF mission in Afghanistan. In addition to the 48 already acquired, 14 more have now been ordered, State Secretary of Defence Jack de Vries told Parliament today, at a cost of 14.2 million euros. The special missions of Dutch commandos and marines in the area of operations have led to the need for two more vehicles. Moreover, seven Bushmasters have been provided to the mission teams and the Police Mentoring teams of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, so they can operate independently of each other. The remaining 5 vehicles are used as a reserve in case of maintenance and repairs. The Bushmasters provide great value for the soldiers in Uruzgan, especially because they offer protection against roadside explosions. The commander of the Uruzgan task force decides which mix of vehicles is used for each mission.