South Korean defence group Hanwha has launched a subsidiary in Australia to pursue land systems opportunities. The inauguration of Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) was announced recently in an event to promote investment in the southeastern state of Victoria.
At the event, Hanwha indicated an intention to bid for the Land 400 Phase 3 project to replace the Australian Army’s M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with up to 450 modern infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
Hanwha’s new subsidiary in Australia is offering to supply the Australian Defence Force with its AS21 Redback (pictured) to meet a requirement to procure IFVs under the Land 400 Phase 3 project. (Julian Kerr)
Hanwha’s partners on its bid to win the project, which is valued at between AUD10–15 billion (USD7.4–11 billion), include local company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) and Israel’s Elbit Systems. To win the contract Hanwha is offering its AS21 Redback IFV, which will be integrated with the T2000 turret, a modular medium-calibre system developed jointly by EOS and Elbit.
In a press release about its partnership with Hanwha, EOS said that the South Korean company is “accelerating plans to establish a credible self-reliant Australian manufacturing base in Victoria”. EOS also indicated that Hanwha and its local partners would, in addition to the Land 400 Phase project, pursue an opportunity to supply the Australian Army with self-propelled howitzers (SPHs).
EOS also confirmed that Hanwha would offer its K9 Thunder system for the SPH programme. If successful, Hanwha would build both the AS21 Redback and the K9 in Victoria.
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