Hanwha Aerospace Makes First Shipment of AS9 Self-Propelled Howitzers from Local Australian Base

Full-Scale Operation of the Geelong H-ACE Plant
Building a Defense Hub in the Indo-Pacific Region

Hanwha Aerospace has carried out the first shipment of AS9 self-propelled howitzers from its local production base in Australia, marking a full-fledged push to localize its global defense production system.

The first AS9 self-propelled howitzer shipped from Hanwha Aerospace's Australian factory. Provided by Hanwha Aerospace

Hanwa Aerospace announced on February 26, 2026, that it held a shipment ceremony for three AS9 self-propelled howitzers at H-ACE (Hanwha Armoured vehicle Centre of Excellence) in Geelong, Australia. The AS9 is a model based on the K9 self-propelled howitzer, which commands more than a 50% share of the global self-propelled howitzer market, and has been modified to suit Australia's environment and operating conditions.

The company plans to roll out the first Australian-made AS10 ammunition resupply vehicles from the local plant within this year. Hanwha Aerospace will supply the Australian Army with 30 AS9 self-propelled howitzers and 15 AS10 ammunition resupply vehicles.

H-ACE, completed in August 2024, is the first overseas production base established by a Korean defense company. Built on a site of approximately 150,000 square meters, it is equipped with 11 facilities, including the main building, production hall, assembly plant, test track, and firing range. It has been developed as a comprehensive defense hub capable of not only simple assembly, but also production, testing, and verification.

Leveraging this first shipment, Hanwha Aerospace plans to actively respond to defense demand in the Indo-Pacific region. The company intends to use H-ACE as a production hub not only for Australia but also for key allied nations, while accelerating its efforts to tap into the AUKUS market, the trilateral security partnership among the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

A company representative said, "The first shipment of self-propelled howitzers manufactured at an overseas production base is a symbolic case demonstrating that exports of Korean defense systems have entered a new stage," adding, "We will develop the local plant in Australia into a core production base for the Indo-Pacific region."