It has been a year that the contract for LAND 8116 Protected Mobile Fires program was signed by the leaders of Australia and South Korea. Plasan of Israel and Hanwha Defense Australia are working together on LAND 8116 to ensure the highest quality survivability systems are delivered to protect the Australian Army’s Hanwha AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers.
The protection solution consists of fixed and dismountable components that protect the vehicles and crew against a wide range of threats, in accordance with the customer’s requirements. The Huntsman protection solution delivers a capability and schedules a critical part of the LAND 8116 project scope. This project will deliver 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers to complement Army’s existing M777 towed howitzers, as well as support systems.
Both phases of LAND 8116 will include supporting Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, which will also be built in Geelong. Compared to existing resupply vehicles, the Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles will offer far higher protection for the resupply crew and shorter reloading time through the use of an automated ammunition transfer system. The Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles share common components with the protected mobile fire platforms, meaning the same skilled workforce in the sovereign and enduring Geelong facility can build them and undertake deep maintenance.