[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Hanwha Defense is showcasing its advanced ground equipment technology by participating in the world's largest ground forces defense exhibition organized by the U.S. Army Association.
Hanwha Defense announced on the 12th that it will participate in the AUSA (AUSA 2021 Annual Meeting & Exposition) defense exhibition held from the 11th to the 13th of this month at the Washington Convention Center in Washington DC, USA. Hanwha Defense has prepared a large exhibition booth of 232m² for this event, displaying the actual K9 self-propelled howitzer and the next-generation infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) Redback, among the latest ground weapon systems.
In particular, Hanwha Defense expressed its intention to participate in the U.S. Army's self-propelled howitzer modernization project by exhibiting the actual K9 self-propelled howitzer again this year. The U.S. Army is promoting the self-propelled howitzer modernization project, which includes extending firing range, increasing caliber, automation, and improving firing rate, so it is expected to show interest in the technology of the K9 self-propelled howitzer, which is the most widely used in the world.
Accordingly, Hanwha Defense plans to showcase the evolutionary performance and development capabilities of the K9 self-propelled howitzer, including ▲the latest K9A2 development status ▲the linkage concept between the K9 and K10 ammunition resupply vehicle ▲and the K9 development roadmap. In particular, the currently developing K9A2 is expected to have significantly enhanced firepower performance, featuring a fully automated turret and high-response gun technology capable of firing 9 rounds per minute. Additionally, it will be equipped with a new protection kit that upgrades chassis armor, and plans are underway to improve mobility by applying composite material rubber tracks.
The Redback armored vehicle is also expected to attract significant attention at this exhibition. The Redback is a 5th generation infantry fighting vehicle developed by Hanwha Defense in collaboration with global defense companies from Israel, Australia, Canada, and others. It was selected as one of the final two candidates for the Australian LAND 400 Phase 3 next-generation tracked armored vehicle acquisition project in 2019 and is currently undergoing final testing and evaluation by the Australian Army.
Hanwha Defense is currently collaborating with Oshkosh Defense, a U.S. military vehicle manufacturer, to participate in the conceptual design of the U.S. Army's next-generation manned/unmanned combined operation infantry fighting vehicle (OMFV) based on the Redback chassis. The OMFV project is a key task in the U.S. Army modernization program aimed at replacing over 3,500 M2 Bradley armored vehicles, with a total project cost reaching 50 trillion KRW. Hanwha Defense established its U.S. subsidiary in May and has been actively hiring local technical personnel, signaling its full-scale competition in the world's largest defense market, the United States.
Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Defense, said, "This exhibition is an opportunity to demonstrate Hanwha Defense's advanced defense technology to the world," adding, "We will concentrate the cutting-edge technology and capabilities that Hanwha Defense possesses, such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Redback, and strive to achieve the best results in the U.S. market, the home of the defense industry."
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