On Friday, June 4th, Northrop Grumman confirmed its partnership with the South Korean company Hanwha Defense as part of Australia’s LAND 400 Phase 3 Program. The contract aims to equip the new Australian Army AS21 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) with the MK44S Bushmaster 30mm cannons.
A total of 129 automatic cannons will be produced to begin deliveries from the year 2026. One of the main advantages is their compatibility with the ammunition produced by Northrop Grumman for the United States Army. Currently, the Bushmaster cannons are being adopted by the Australian Defense Forces, as they are present in other ground, air, and maritime platforms. The 30mm ammunition has a programmable capacity that allows it to easily penetrate various types of armor.
The Redback is an infantry fighting vehicle based on the K21 employed by the Republic of Korea Army, extensively modified and adapted to Australian requirements, receiving the official designation of “AS21.” Weighing nearly 42 tons, the armored vehicle will have a primary armament of a 30mm MK44S rapid-fire cannon (complemented by a coaxial MAG 58 7.62mm machine gun) mounted on an EOS T-2000 turret. Additionally, it can be adapted to carry a remote weapon station EOS R400S Mk2 HD or R150, and an anti-tank missile launcher module.
Last year, the Redback was selected as the winner of the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 3 Program, which aims to incorporate a new Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) to replace the aging M113 still in service. Following the selection of the South Korean armored vehicle, a contract for the purchase and manufacturing of 129 units was awarded in December for an approximate amount of US$2.4 billion.
The future 129 Redback IFVs of the Australian Army will be locally manufactured at the facilities that Hanwha Aerospace will establish in the Geelong region by Fiscal Year 2024. These locations will also be where the new AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers and their AS10 ammunition vehicles will be produced, providing comprehensive support to the new members of the Australian Defense Forces’ armored and artillery units. Regarding the delivery of the new IFVs, Hanwha Aerospace reported that the first deliveries will commence in 2027, with completion in 2028.
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