With the signing of a self-propelled howitzer contract with Hanwha Australia, a subsidiary of the Republic of Korea’s Hanwha National Defense, on December 13, the Australian Army is finally expected to carry out a major upgrade of its field artillery.
The first phase of the order for the defense project Land 8116 will include the delivery of thirty (30) 155mm/52 caliber AS9 Huntsman systems and fifteen (15) AS10 ammunition supply vehicles.
These systems will be manufactured at Hanwha Australia’s facility in Greater Geelong, Victoria. Other local companies will provide support, including Kongsberg Defense Australia, HIFaser, Thales Australia, ElmTek, Bisallot Steel, TAE Aerospace, Penske, CBG Systems, Sigma Bravo and Elphinstone Pty Ltd.
Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2024. The contract value is US$788 million.
The AS9 Huntsman will replace some of the M777 155mm towed artillery currently deployed in 2010 and 2012. The AS9 and the accompanying AS10 supply vehicles are based on the K9 Thunder and K10 systems, respectively, and are used in South Korea, Poland, Turkey, Finland, Norway, Estonia and India.
Together, they provide highly mobile indirect fire support suitable for maneuvering operations. It has a maximum range of 40 kilometers and uses basic deflated ammunition. Semi-automatic loading allows three rounds to be fired within 15 seconds, while impacting the target. Able to relocate and shoot within 30 seconds, it can quickly transport locations to ensure survival. The latest version of the ammunition supply vehicle carries 104 shells and 504 charges, which can be transferred to the howitzer at a rate of 12 rounds per minute through its automated system.
The Australian AS10 will be the first batch production of the most advanced version of this replenishment vehicle.
The introduction of Huntsman will provide the Australian ground forces with the necessary mobile firepower to support its deployment of boxer close-range reconnaissance vehicles, the planned procurement of M1A2 Abrams MBT, and the mobility capabilities provided by the current competition for new infantry fighting vehicles (including Hanwha There are candidates).
Stephen W. Miller
