The Commonwealth government has formally revealed the long awaited winner of the multi-billion dollar LAND 400 Phase 3 program which will transform the Army’s combined arms combat capabilities.
Defence Connect can reveal that Hanwha Defense Australia has been successful in their bid to provide the Australian Army with a fleet of 129 infantry fighting vehicles as part of the long running LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
The fleet of vehicles will be manufactured in Australia at the company’s AU$170 million dollar Geelong plant and has long been billed as a secondary supply source for South Korea should the relationship with its Communist neighbour deteriorate into conflict.
It is understood that the Redback performed marginally better than its German competitor, the KF-41 Lynx, with Defence deferring the decision ultimately to Government as both vehicles were deemed “suitable” for Defence’s requirements.
This long running selection process was subject to a recent cut as a result of findings in the Albanese Government’s Defence Strategic Review, which saw the program scaled back from up to 450 vehicles to just 129 vehicles as part of a larger ‘reprioritisation’ of Army investment and reorientation of capability.
Hanwha’s Redback is a next-generation IFV developed specifically for the Australian Infantryman with advantages literally built into it from the ground up.