Hanwha Defense pushes to equip Australian army with its AS21 Redback IFV.

Park Jae-hyuk reports in The Korea Times that Hanwha Defense appears to be going all out to win a $18 billion contract to supply AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles to Australia, where it is set to build its factory to produce the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer, according to industry officials. Hanwha Defense is expected to accelerate its efforts to convince the Australian government to choose its Redback over Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 for the LAND 400 Phase 3 infantry fighting vehicle project.
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AS21 Redback (Picture source: Hanwha Defense)

During South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visit to Australia in December 2021, Hanwha Defense signed a contract to set up a facility for producing its self-propelled howitzers and ammunition resupply vehicles, Park Jae-hyuk recalls. In late March 2022, one of the three Redbacks that finished testing in Australia was also brought back to South Korea for the Army's 11th Maneuver Division to operate the armored vehicle on a trial basis over the next two months. The Australian government is scheduled to choose the preferred bidder next June, but some local news outlets reported that the selection will be finished before the country's federal election in May.

Hanwha Defense said it is considering enabling the K9 factory to produce the AS1 Redback, depending on the outcome of its competition with Rheinmetall, Park Jae-hyuk reports. If the Korean firm wins the bid, it will also suggest the export of made-in-Australia Redbacks to the European market. For these plans, Hanwha Group will organize a consultative group called Hanwha Forum during the first half of this year to have talks with the Victoria State Government about business cooperation and investment plans regarding the construction, space and financial sectors, as well as defense technologies. According to the company, its new factory is expected to create over 300 new jobs in the region, as it has already signed contracts with over 50 local suppliers to use their components.