[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] 'AUKUS' First Entry into Defense Industry... K-Armored Vehicle 'Customized Strategy' Worked

Job Creation and Rapid Response Possible Through Local Production
Customized Strategies for Recipient Countries from Initial Design Stage

Hanwha Aerospace will export the 30 trillion won-class tracked infantry fighting vehicle ‘Redback’ to Australia.

On the 8th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that an export contract for Redback was signed between Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), Hanwha Aerospace’s local subsidiary in Australia, and the Australian Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). The supply scale is 129 units, with a contract value of 2.4 billion dollars (3.15 trillion won).

Redback was selected as the preferred bidder in July for the Australian Army’s tracked infantry fighting vehicle acquisition project, ‘Land 400’ Phase 3. This project is the largest in the history of the Australian Army, and Redback was chosen as Australia’s next armored vehicle after competing against European equipment. With this order, Redback becomes the second ground equipment exported by a domestic defense company to Australia, following the K-9 self-propelled howitzer.

This contract is significant as it marks the full-scale entry of K-defense into the advanced markets of AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States security alliance).

In particular, it is regarded as the first successful case of the ‘K-defense export system,’ which optimizes planning, design, and supply systems for overseas countries. Hanwha Aerospace is currently constructing the Hanwha Armored Vehicle Advanced Center (H-ACE) in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, aiming for completion in the second half of next year. All 129 Redback units contracted will be produced here, with all factory personnel being local residents, and a significant portion of raw materials such as steel and major components also procured locally, implementing a ‘localized customized export strategy.’

A customized design method exclusively for the demand country was also adopted. Typically, weapon systems are developed domestically first and then exported, but Redback was designed and manufactured specifically for export to Australia. The armored vehicle’s name, ‘Redback,’ is derived from the redback spider native to Australia.

Redback is equipped with an internally mounted hydro-pneumatic suspension system, providing excellent driving performance and mobility. It is armed with a 30mm cannon and a powerpack (engine and transmission) used in the K9 self-propelled howitzer. A hybrid turret capable of firing anti-tank missiles is also installed.

A Hanwha Aerospace official stated, "From the beginning, we created an export-type system to strategically supply the specifications required by the importing country as quickly as possible." The Defense Acquisition Program Administration emphasized, "This achievement demonstrates the strength of our weapon systems in the global defense market and is the result of multifaceted support at the whole-of-government level, centered on the National Security Office, including the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the Army."