Korean defense giant Hanwha Defense signed a contract to supply and produce the AS9 Huntsman Self-Propelled Howitzer and AS10 Armored Automatic Resupply Vehicle for the Australian Army on Dec. 13.
The AS9 Huntsman is a special variant of Hanwha’s K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer developed for Australia.
The signing of the contract was announced on Dec. 13 by Korean President Moon Jae-in, on a state visit, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison who held a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
This is the first major defense acquisition by Australia from an Asian defense prime contractor. Also present for the ceremony was Son Jae-il, president and chief executive officer of Hanwha Defense, and Richard Cho, managing director of Hanwha Defense Australia.
In a related development, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of Korea and its Australian counterpart, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), struck an MOU on cooperation in the defense industry and defense supplies between the two countries.
The agreement was signed by DAPA Administrator Kang Eun-ho and Tony Frazer, head of CASG, in the presence of President Moon and Prime Minister Morrison.
The defense ministries of Korea and Australia signed an MOU in September 2001, but the deal expired. The latest deal comes after a demand for signing a new MOU had emerged in keeping with changed environment conditions, such as defense collaboration structural reorganization and the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Following the signing of the MOU, CASG struck a deal to acquire K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers with Hanwha Defense Australia. Australia joined eight countries, including Korea, in operating the Korean howitzer.
DASA Administrator Kang said, “With the signing of an MOU between Korea and Australia and a contract to supply K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer, the two countries have agreed to cooperate in ways of promoting jointness among arms systems based on the interoperability of the self-propelled howitzer.” He expressed hope Korea and Australia will expand their collaboration base to the space defense sector.
“I am enormously proud for Hanwha to be part of such a significant occasion. To see the Korean President side-by-side with the Australian Prime Minister makes the growing depth of the relationship between Australia and Korea clear to me,” Hanwha Defense President Son was quoted as saying.
“Both countries have much to gain from each other economically, but benefits are especially significant in terms of regional security. The long-standing trust and friendship between Australia and the Republic of Korea is a great asset,” Son said.
“The team at Hanwha Defense Australia has worked hard for this day. It is an honor to be contracted to supply equipment to the Australian Defense Force,” Cho said.
The procurement is part of Defense project Land 8116 phase 1 which will see the acquisition of 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers and 15 AS10 armored resupply vehicles.
This highly advanced new equipment will bring a genuine transformation to the Australian Army’s artillery capability. The vehicles will be manufactured in Australia at a new Hanwha facility to be constructed in the Greater Geelong area of Victoria.
DAPA Signs MOU on Cooperation in Defense Industry with CASG
At the joint press conference following the Korea-Australia summit on Dec.13, President Moon Jae-in said, “the Prime Minister and I upgraded our bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and our two countries will take off as global pacesetters together and move forward more vigorously toward a future of shared prosperity.”
The two countries agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation for regional stability, peace and prosperity, President Moon said. “We decided to expand security cooperation in national defense, the defense industry, cyberspace and other areas.”
Importantly, the contract to supply K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers will herald enhanced strategic cooperation in the defense industry between our two countries, he said. “We agreed to foster key future industries together.” The two countries also agreed to strengthen space cooperation, he said.
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