Hanwha Defence Australia signs contract for LAND 400 Phase 3 Redback vehicles

Hanwha Defence Australia has signed an approximately $4 billion contract with the Commonwealth for the delivery of 129 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).

The program will see all 129 vehicles manufactured in Australia, with vehicle deliveries to begin in 2027 and have the fleet delivered in full by 2028. A series of eigh prototype vehicles will also be manufactured in both South Korea and Australia as the program develops.

The contract covers measures related to training, spares and sustainment efforts through till Final Acceptance in 2029,with an initial support contract in place for the first five years.

“Hanwha Aerospace is pleased to see the contract for the Redback IFV now in place to deliver this world leading capability,” Mr Jae-il Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, HDA's parent company, said. “The order represents a further strengthening of the Hanwha presence in Australia next to the AS9 and AS10 Huntsman vehicles under LAND 8116 for the Australian Defence Force. The ties between Australia and South Korea are growing rapidly and we are excited to be part of that growing relationship.”

With a down select of HDA as the preferred partner for the Land 400 program announced in July 2023, the Commonwealth and HDA have worked together at speed to negotiate Army’s largest every acquisition program to date.

“Less than 6months after the preferred partner announcement, HDA and Commonwealth have worked hard to deliver a contract that will see this game changing capability delivered to protect Australian soldier,” Mr Richard Cho, Managing Director of HDA said. “Working with both local and international partners, the Redback will be a welcome replacement of the Vietnam era M113 vehicles.

“We will be manufacturing all 129 vehicles at the Hanwha Armoured vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) facility now under construction at Geelong. Bringing back high technology vehicle manufacturing to the region is exciting not just for us but for the potential export base it provides to Australian companies.”

Backgroundinformation

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Capability

Equipped with advanced situational awareness systems normally found on jet fighters, the Redback rides on rubber tracks that reduce noise and vibration while offering superior ride quality for its crew and the soldiers it protects.

The vehicle boasts an advanced layered protection system including and active protection system and world class armour and a structure designed to protect occupants from the effects of blast. Using Australian steel from Bisalloy, the vehicle allows soldiers to fight at every step on the battlefield.

All this is supported by an independent suspension system which does not use torsion bars thus supplying more space for innovative blast mitigation systems.

Redback’s main armament is a Mk44S Bushmaster II 30mm cannon from Northrop Grumman capable of firing all natures of 30mm x 173mm ammunition in service with 19nations, including the US, the UK, and other allies.

The Redbackis also armed with a 7.62mm co-axially mounted machine gun, and a remoteweapons station that can be fitted with a range of weapons including 7.62mmmachine gun, .50 calibre machine and an automatic grenade launcher.

“The Redback is a highly advanced infantry fighting vehicle and is one of the safest and most lethal platform soldiers can use,” Mr Cho said. “The Iron Vision system that allows the Redback’s crew to effectively look through the hull of the vehicle as though it isn’t there is an absolute game changer when it comes to operating heavy armoured vehicles in close company with dismounted troops.”

Industry

The Redback IFV will be manufactured at HDA’s H-ACE which is due to open in Q3 2024.

This facility is being built for the Land 8116 Protected Mobile Fires Program to deliver the Huntsman AS9 self-propelled howitzer and AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles and will expand to support Redback in Australia plus any future international programs.

The facility will expand to deliver a world leading capability to the ADF with these platforms. This will create hundreds of jobs not just for HDA but also the nationally based supply chain of Australian industry partners.

These partners include Bisalloy in NSW, Elphinstone in Tasmania, Penske and Corvus in Victoria alongside many more. International partners such as Northrop Grumman are also key in delivering this game changing capability.

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