Hanwha lays out short-term plan for Australian Redback IFVs

Canberra has selected Hanwha's Redback for a long-standing Australian Army infantry fighting vehicle requirement. Hanwha plans to build an initial tranche of Redbacks in South Korea and the remainder in Australia. (Hanwha Defense Australia)

Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) has outlined a short-term plan to meet the Australian Army's requirement for Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

In late July the Australian government selected HDA to deliver 129 Redbacks to the Australian Army under the Land 400 Phase 3 programme – worth AUD5–7 billion (USD3.3–4.6 billion).

Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the government is accelerating this acquisition so that the first vehicle will be delivered in early 2027 – two years earlier than initially planned – and the final vehicle will be delivered by late 2028.

An HDA spokesperson told Janes on 4 August, “In order to meet the accelerated schedule from the [Australian] government, HDA is proposing to build a small initial tranche in South Korea at our Changwon facility.”

“The remainder of the fleet will be built in Australia, with Elphinstone in place for the production of hulls in a similar approach being undertaken for Land 8116 Phase 1,” the spokesperson said. In February 2022 Victoria-based firm Elphinstone was selected by HDA to build turret and hull structures for the Huntsman vehicles Australia is procuring from HDA. On the Redback, Elphinstone is teamed with HDA to produce hull structures.

HDA plans to manufacture and assemble the Redbacks in Australia at its Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Geelong, Victoria, which is scheduled to be operational from 2024.