A Redback infantry fighting vehicle on display in Canberra. Army will take delivery of 129 of the vehicles, to be built in Geelong. (Andrew Green via Australian Ministry of Defence)
JERUSALEM — Elbit Systems has been awarded a contract to supply systems to Hanwha Defense Australia to be put on Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) as part of Canberra’s Land 400 Phase 3 Project.
In an announcement today, Elbit said it will deliver “advanced protection, fighting capabilities and a sensors suit” for the vehicles in a deal worth $600 million.
Beyond that, the Elbit statement was slim on details, but it comes months after Hanwha Defense Australia was selected to deliver 129 Redbacks to the Australian military in a project estimated by the Australian government to be worth $7 billion AUD ($4.6 billion USD) in December. Though Hanwha Defense Australia’s parent company is based in South Korea, the vehicles will be manufactured in Australia and are scheduled to complete delivery by 2028. The timeframe is the same as the Elbit contract.
“The acquisition of these infantry fighting vehicles is part of the Government’s drive to modernise the Australian Army to ensure it can respond to the most demanding land challenges in our region,” the Australian Ministry of Defence said in December.
Today’s contract, which followed an announcement of the collaboration in August, expands Elbit’s role in Australia. It is also the largest contract announced by the Israeli firm since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“This milestone reaffirms our commitment to delivering advanced, mission-critical solutions to the Australian Army,” Bezhalel Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, said in a statement. “Elbit Systems is dedicated to supplying cutting-edge defense technologies that will safeguard troops on the modern battlefield.”
The Redback is expected to integrate a turret that is “based on the latest generation of Elbit Systems’ 30mm manned turret with the COAPS gunner sight, additional electro-optic systems, Iron Fist active protection system, Elbit Systems’ Iron-Vision advanced situational awareness head mounted display system and Elbit Systems’ laser warning system [E-LAWS],” Elbit said last year.
As big as today’s contract is, it couldv’e been much bigger had Australia’s original IFV plan survived. Last year Canberra cut the number of IFVs it was expected to purchase from 450 to 129.
Hanwha also supplies Australia with the AS9 and AS10 Huntsman self-propelled gun system.
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