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Hanwha Aerospace Co., South Korea's leading defense company, announced the expansion of its plant in Australia and the commencement of production for the Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) intended for the Australian Army.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha Aerospace built the initial phase of the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Center of Excellence (H-ACE) in Geelong in 2024 to produce K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles. The facility, spanning 32,000 square meters, has been expanded over the past 12 months to support the production of 129 IFVs. This expansion follows Hanwha Aerospace's contract with the Australian government signed in late 2023.
The company has invested a cumulative 237.1 billion won (US$159 million) in the Australian facility, which now supports over 250 employees. The site is equipped with a 1.2-kilometer test track featuring incline and deep-water testing facilities, along with worksh ops, a systems integration laboratory, and a paint shop.
Hanwha Aerospace stated that the expanded plant will enhance the local defense industry ecosystem and serve as a significant production hub for ground defense equipment in the Indo-Pacific region. "The completed facility is a strategic asset not only for Australia and South Korea but also for the wider region in terms of production, and future maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade work, as well as additional opportunities," a company official mentioned.
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