Hanwha Aerospace announced today that its subsidiary, Hanwha Defense Australia(HDA), has emerged as the preferred bidder for the prestigious Land 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program with its impressive Redback IFV.
Under this program, 129 vehicles will be supplied across two variants, and the delivery will be expedited in alignment with the Australian Army's Defence Strategic Review.
This selection is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first time a South Korean defense company has been chosen as the preferred bidder for a program by an army of an AUKUS member. The decision was based on Hanwha's exceptional technical expertise and its ability to meet the evolving requirements of the Australian Army.
"The selection of the Redback for the Australian Army is an exciting milestone, not just for soldiers, who will have an IFV specifically designed and built for them, but also for the strengthening ties between Australia and the Republic of Korea," said Son Jae-il, CEO and President of Hanwha Aerospace. "Hanwha's selection as the preferred bidder for the Land 400 Phase 3 has significant implications for Korea-Australia defense and economic cooperation."
The Redback IFV is a notable achievement for Hanwha Aerospace as it represents the company's first successful export model specifically designed, developed, and tested for a foreign government partner.
“We are excited for the next phase of this program that will see HDA and Australian industry deliver a world class IFV to the Australian Army,” said Richard Cho, Managing Director of HDA. “I would like to thank our industry partners who supported us through the Risk Mitigation Activity during the challenging times that COVID presented to us and since then as we prepared our winning response to the Commonwealth.”
