At ease, soldier! ‘Tiz the new role of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon in the Australian Defense Force. It’s now running about its paces around defense sites all over the Land Down Under, and it’s undoubtedly garnering positive points. The Australian military is subjecting the G-Wagon under an intensive training, err, test program to make sure that it’ll perform up to standards in future missions.

Actually, it’s also being tested in Germany and Austria, everywhere from scientific measuring of noise and emissions, brake and steering performance at very high speeds, as well as preparation of an optional armor upgrade just in case things get too hot in the line of duty.

Mercedes-Benz has committed 1,200 units of 6×6 and 4×4 G-Wagons to the Australian Defence Force, beginning with 11 prototypes that were delivered around October last year to January this year. A majority of the wagons will be armed with mission-specific modules that are going to be shipped from G.H. Varley in Newcastle.

A joint team from Mercedes-Benz and G.H. Varley were called upon to bear witness as to how the G-Wagons are being tested. Undertaking the tests were Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force officers themselves. On hand in the event as well were a team of Air Force guard dogs to demonstrate operations involving purpose-built canine modules.

The terrain on which the tests were being conducted are currently impassable by the Army’s current vehicles. It’s a great way to showcase the G-Wagon’s abilities.

Delivery of the G-Wagon fleet and mission program modules will commence at exactly 0800 hours on the 2nd month of 2011 up till 2013. Mercedes-Benz is now looking at a 15-year contract with the Australian Defense Force.