Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) has formally unveiled the first LAND 8116 programme AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicle (AARV) in Australian Army Auscam markings at its Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) facility on 27 February.
The first batch of vehicles, comprising two AS9 SPHs and one AS10 AARV arrived in Australia in December 2024. The remaining vehicles ordered under LAND 8116 are being produced at the H-ACE facility with significant content from domestic industry.
According to HDA, Australian supply chain partners included Elphinstone, Kongsberg Defence Australia, CBG Systems, Penguin Composites, HIFraser, MMCLD, Bisalloy Steel, AME, Safran Electronics and Defence Australasia, Sigma Bravo, Thales Australia, Axalta and Tei.
“We are excited to have the first vehicles here in Australia as we prepare to deliver this capability to the Australian Army,” said Acting HDA Managing Director Dean Michie.
“Production of the hulls and turrets is already taking place at Elphinstone in northern Tasmania, and our production line here at the H-ACE has also begun work,” he added.
The Australian DoD awarded a A$1 billion contract to HDA in 2021 to supply 30 AS9 155 mm SPHs and 15 AS10 AARVs under the Land 8116 Phase 1 programme.
The first three systems were manufactured at Hanwha’s production plant in Changwon, South Korea while the remaining 28 AS9 SPHs and 14 AS10 AARVs will be locally manufactured in Australia by HDA at the H-ACE facility from 2024. Deliveries of Australian-made systems are expected to commence from 2025.
The AS9 is based on Hanwha Aerospace’s K9 Thunder SPH, which is already in service with the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) as well as acquired by nine international operators.
The Australian Army earlier performed a successful test-firing of the AS9 in South Korea in July 2023, which validated the AS9’s automated loading capabilities and its compatibility with Australian-manufactured 155 mm munitions.
by Jr Ng
