Contracts signed for Army’s Redback IFVs
The government has signed contracts with Korean-parented Hanwha Defense Australia to deliver and support 129 locally built Redback infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian Army.
FILE PHOTO: Hanwha Redback, chosen as The Australian Army’s new infantry fighting vehicle. Image supplied.
While this fleet size of 129 vehicles was reduced from Army’s tendered 450 vehicles by the Albanese Government, the cost of the total value of project is an eye-watering $7 billion dollars – representing the single largest Army contract to date.
Redback infantry fighting vehicles will be built at Hanwha Defense Australia’s state-of-the-art facility in Avalon, Victoria.
The first vehicles are scheduled to be delivered in 2027, with the final vehicle set to be delivered in late 2028.
The infantry fighting vehicles will be delivered at around the same time as the new HIMARS missile systems and Army Landing Craft – reflecting the Defence Strategic Review’s call for Army to be transformed for littoral manoeuvre operations from Australia.
Aside from training vehicles, the IFV fleet will be entirely operated by the 3rd Armoured Combat Brigade in Townsville.
Minister for Defence Richard Marles said this was an important project for the Australian Army.
“This is a significant investment that will properly equip the Army so it can keep Australians safe,” Mr Marles said.
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I dont think getting rid of the M113’s would be a good move. Keep them, they must have some capability still in the poor old buggers, like moving troops around, some were upgrades a few years ago from memory. Or put them into war stores. Look at the value Ukraine got from old stock.
I suppose this going to be good for the Army – nobody has said anything, so I guess this is what the powers to be want. What type of armament will they have? Will the poor old M113AS4 be kept running for another 20 years, will the ASLAVS get another chance at an extended life? Grateful if you could advise. All this confusion just to pay for some secondhand US SSN – amazing. Why on earth did they put two guys in charge of the Defence Strategic Review who were part of a succession of people who were instrumental in bringing on the demise of the ADF?
ASLAVs being replaced by boxer
So are these 129 IFVs replacing all of our current M113AS4 ? Or will we still be running boxes around within other units at the same time ? That’s a lot of hulls for them to fill in for regardless of how much more capable they are. Still can’t be in two places at once…. Just a thought.
Bit of A and B, In line with the new force restructuring, 1st will be light comat and 7th brigade will be motorised combat brigade fielding Bushmasters and hawkei’s as the primary infantry mobility vehicles. Only 3rd brigade will be an armoured combat brigade fielding all the heavy mechanised equipment such as redback IFVs and tanks. AS4 will probably still be around in the reserve units and to backfill for other logistics/support roles.
And again this Government winds back Defence spending. When the defence minister announced on TV that this was a major purchase he declined to mention that it was some 350 vechiles short of the desired number, but there hasn’t been a uproar from the opposition as when the French Sub contract was cancelled.