Hanwha Defence Australia has been selected for LAND 8116 Phase 1 which is to deliver 30 Huntsman Self-Propelled Howitzers and 15 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Systems to the Australian Army.
A new K9 variant, the AS9 Huntsman, has been developed for this program to incorporate learnings and experience from the global fleet of over 2,400 K9s and K10s. The K10, or AS10 in Australia, is a highly protected and manoeuvrable Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (AARV) with a unique loading system that reduces risk to soldiers from enemy fire.
With the AS9 Huntsman, Hanwha is offering a proven 52-caliber 155mm gun system that is in-service with multiple nations around the world including the NATO alliance.
The K9 is the most popular Self-Propelled Howitzer in the world with a diverse user group throughout Europe, Asia, Middle East and Asia Pacific, with a user community made up of 9 nations.
Cortex Fire Control Systems will be compatible with the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data system, providing fully automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling and executing fires and effects.
Hanwha has suggested a Protected Command and Control Post variant based on the AS10 known as the AS10C2.
The AS10C2 would have the largest interior of any protected C2 (Command & Control) vehicle in the Australian Army, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate six to seven command post soldiers with multi-use workstations and supporting C4I hardware infrastructure.
The AS10C2 could act as a forward protected Command Post and even ground control station for both artillery and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles; effectively a highly protected key tactical headquarters able to operate in high threat and highly mobile environments.
The new variant will use all common architecture including running gear, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) baseline, support system and use the same production line as the AS10, providing a low risk and high reward opportunity to enhance the mission system with increased capability.