Australian self-propelled howitzers use MINEO sights

Hanwha Defence Australia has been contracted to supply 32 Huntsman AS-9 advanced 155mm/52 caliber self-propelled howitzers under the military’s Land 8116 modernization program.

The first system, to be manufactured in Geelong, Victoria, includes a dynamic zoom that provides excellent line-of-sight stability and accuracy. The facility will be delivered for the first time in 2025.

Although based on the South Korean Army K9, the AS-9 was specifically designed to meet the specific requirements of the Australian Army. To achieve this, Hanwha has made numerous enhancements and functional upgrades by borrowing from configurations developed for other military customers. This includes identifying newly defined subsystems with leading performance and functionality. Hanwha’s recent selection of Safran Electronics and Oceania Defense (SEDA)’s MINEO Direct Fire Support System (DFSS) to equip Huntsman is one such step.

The MINEO Direct Fire Support System (DFSS) is an integral part of the AS-9 and is connected to KDAu’s ODIN fire control system and the EOS supplied R400 remote weapon station. Along with the former, the DFSS facilitates the attack engagement capability of the primary howitzer while providing direct fire targeting for the latter.

The compact MINEO sight combines color daylight imaging and thermal imaging with a laser rangefinder that stabilizes and provides target tracking. It uses an uncooled 8-12 µm thermal imager and a normal hybrid IR/TV display. The color day camera features a patented still color day zoom for excellent line-of-sight stabilization and shooting accuracy. Patrice Provost, CEO of Safran Australasia, said: “MINEO DFSS is already operational and is being used in K9 projects in India and Norway.

Stephen W. Miller