Hanwha Defense shows off Redback infantry fighting vehicle which could be built in Geelong under $27bn contract
The conglomerate vying for a $27 billion ADF contract that could be delivered in Geelong has shown off its military might. Check out the vehicles that could be manufactured locally.
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A South Korean conglomerate vying for an Australian Defence Force contract worth up to $27 billion, and who would base manufacturing in Geelong if successful, has flexed its military muscle.
Hanwha Defense recently completed a six-week trial of its next-generation infantry fighting vehicle, named Redback, for the South Korean Army.
It comes as the incoming Albanese Government will have to decide if Hanwha Defense Australia’s Redback or Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s infantry fighting vehicle will be selected for the Land 400 phase 3 contract worth up to $27bn.
The decision is likely to have oversight from Deputy Prime Minister and Corio MP Richard Marles who on Tuesday was named as Australia’s Defence Minister.
Factored into the thinking is likely to be South Korea Government’s willingness to purchase about 30 Redbacks.
Reports have also surfaced the German Government wants to buy Rheinmetall’s vehicle which if selected by the Australian Government would be built in Queensland.
Under the Australian contract the Australian Army will buy about 400 next-generation infantry fighting vehicles.
South Korean Army Brigadier General Hyun-k Cho, head of South Korean Government’s arm responsible for improving defence capability, said the Redback contained reliable and sophisticated technology.
“Domestically, we consider acquiring a Korean version of the Redback — meeting the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army’s operational concept and capable of featuring technology and performance required by the service — under a fast-track research and development program,” Brig Gen Cho said.
“With this approach, the ROK Army will be able to deploy next-generation in infantry fighting vehicles earlier than schedule, which will contribute to improving the service’s capability to deploy and sustain armed forces.”
During an event at a South Korean army base on May 27, Hanwha Defense showed the capabilities of the Redback including manoeuvrability through an off-road obstacle course.
Operators also performed a pivot steer, turret rotation and a troop dismount.
Vice President of Hanwha Defense’s overseas department Boo-hwan Lee said the Redback had strong interest from organisations within the United States and Europe.
“The Redback demonstrated its overwhelming performance during the final tests and evaluations in Australia, and the latest trial run of the Redback for the ROK Army proved the
vehicle’s all terrain capabilities and reliability,” Mr Lee said.
“We’re confident in the Redback’s competitiveness in the global IFV market.”
Weeks before the May election the Morrison Government put off announcing if Hanwha or Rheinmetall would be awarded the Land 400 phase 3 contract.
Hanwha Defense’s Redback vehicle and Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 vehicle have both been put through a two-year risk mitigation program that’s included detailed testing and evaluation.
The Australian Defence Force is expected to make a recommendation to government this year about its preferred vehicle.
In August Hanwha Defense is due to complete durability testing of the Redback’s manoeuvrability in South Korea with testing to cover about 10,000 kilometers of driving on rough terrain, and paved and unpaved roads.
Originally published as Hanwha Defense shows off Redback infantry fighting vehicle which could be built in Geelong under $27bn contract
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