Hanwha Defence Australia selected as preferred partner for LAND 400 Phase 3

The Albanese Government have announced that Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) has been downselected as the preferred tenderer for the multi-billion dollar Land 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program with the Redback IFV, with final Government Approval to be sought at the conclusion of contract negotiations.

“We are excited for the next phase of this program that will see HDA and Australian industry deliver a world class IFV to the Australian Army,” Mr Richard Cho, Managing Director of HDA said.

“I would like to thank our industry partners who supported us through the Risk Mitigation Activity during the challenging times that COVID presented to us and since then as we prepared our winning response to the Commonwealth.”

“The selection of the Redback for the Australian Army is an exciting milestone not just for soldiers, who will have an IFV that was specifically designed and built for them, as it also cements the closer ties between Australia and the Republic of Korea.”

“Hanwha’s selection as preferred tenderer for the Land 400 Phase 3 project has major implications for Korea-Australia defence and economic cooperation,” Mr Son Jaeil, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, parent company of HDA said.

“Production of the world’s first fifth generation IFV is a game changer for Australian Defence capability. We’re looking forward to being a true partner to Australia for this program alongside LAND 8116 Phase 1.”

The Redback IFV will be manufactured at HDA’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence, the H-ACE, currently being built next to the Avalon Airport in Geelong.

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 Elbit Systems, Plasan and Northrop Grumman are also key in delivering this game changing capability.

The program covers 129 vehicles across two variants and will be delivered under an accelerated schedule in line with the Defence Strategic Review (DSR).

HDA will work with the Commonwealth to finalise the contract suite and deliver the optimum outcome for the Australian Army.

This is Army’s largest ever acquisition program to date and HDA is looking forward to delivering the Redback IFV to the Australian Army.

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 Elbit’s active protection system, Plasan’s 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 19 nations, including the US, the UK, and other allies.

The Redback is also armed with a 7.62mm co-axially mounted machine gun, and a remote weapons station that can be fitted with a range of weapons including 7.62mm machine 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.”