Korean Ambassador to Australia Admiral Seung-Seob Sim, MAJGEN Richard Vagg, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Acting HDA MD Dean Michie, and MAJGEN Jason Blain at the arrival of the vehicles at H-ACE. Photo: HDA.
The first three of 45 Hanwha Defence Australia AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (AARV) have arrived in Australia.
The vehicles were manufactured in South Korea and were handed over at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) which opened in 2024 at Avalon Airport near Geelong.
The remaining 42 vehicles – comprising 28 AS9s and 14 AS10s – will be manufactured at H-ACE under Defence’s Project LAND 8116 Batch 1. The AS9 is capable of speeds of more than 60 km/h and carries a 52-calibre 155-mm main gun capable of firing shells with precision accuracy over tens of kilometres. The AS10 is based on the AS9 running gear and can automatically resupply the SPH in the field and under fire.
Acting HDA managing director Mr Dean Michie said the company was excited to have the first vehicles in Australia to deliver to the Australian Army.
“Production of the hulls and turrets is already taking place at Elphinstone in northern Tasmania, and our production line here at the H-ACE has also begun work,” he said.
Hanwha has teamed with partners Elphinstone Pty Ltd, Kongsberg Defence Australia, CBG SYSTEMS, Penguin Composites, HIFraser, MMC LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, Bisalloy Steel, AME, Safran Electronics and Defence Australasia, Sigma Bravo, Thales Australia, Axalta ANZ – Australia & New Zealand and TEi to build and sustain the vehicles in Australia.
“The technology transfer on the program between South Korea and Australia is an important part of this program, demonstrating the close ties between the two nations,” Mr Michie added.
“Celebrating this milestone with our government, Defence and supply chain partners in our new facility is an honour.”
The handover was conducted in the presence of Defence Minister and local Member for Corio Richard Marles, the Korean Ambassador to Australia Admiral Seung-Seob Sim, and Army Major-Generals Jason Blain and Richard Vagg.
“This is the foundation contract for Hanwha establishing its facility here in Avalon,” Mr Marles said.
“And of course, since this contract, we’ve seen Hanwha win the contract to build the infantry fighting vehicles – the Redbacks – and when production is up and running, this facility here is going to support 1800 jobs, both here and across the supply chain.”
The AS10 resupply vehicle (left) and AS9 Huntsman are built on a common chassis and running gear. Photo: HDA.
The contract to build 129 AS21 Redback IFVs was awarded to Hanwha in December 2023, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2026.
The H-ACE has a test track, a 31-degree gradient, and other facilities designed to allow predelivery testing to be conducted on all vehicles produced at the facility.
“That’s fantastic for our regional economy – speaking as the Member for Corio – it’s really fantastic in terms of Australian defence industry, and we’re so excited about the presence of Hanwha in Australia,” Mr Marles said.
“What that means in terms of the contribution it makes to the bilateral relationship between Australia and Korea, which is really growing from strength to strength.”
Mr Marles was asked by media whether, in light of the extensive use of SPH and other artillery in Ukraine, whether he would look to reinstate the second batch of a similar number of SPHs which was cancelled in the government’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
“I am still comfortable with that decision,” he responded.
“We have made clear that what we need is a mobile Army. Difficult decisions have to be made if what you want to do is build the capability of the defence force around your strategic objective, and our strategic objective is all about projection.
“So, when we think about what are the capabilities in the Army … we can transport,” he added.
“So that’s what has driven our decision-making in relation to the capabilities that we’re acquiring, in relation to Huntsman, and in relation to Redback as well. And I’m very comfortable with that, because what we are doing is aligning our procurement of this fantastic capability with our ability to transport it.”
