Page 50 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 21

50 MILITARY VEHICLES LAND 400
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
Equipped with advanced situational awareness systems normally found on jet fighters such as see through vision and helmet slaved systems, the Redback rides on rubber tracks that reduce noise and vibration while offering su- perior ride quality for its crew and the soldiers it protects.
The vehicle has a layered protection system including Elbit’s active protection system, a Plasan armour solution and a structure designed to protect occupants from the effects of blast.
It is supported by an independent suspension system which does not use torsion bars, supplying more space for blast mitigation systems that remove the dependence on old fashioned suspended footrests and other design constraints.
The Redback’s Australian turret (with significant work being done with remote weapon station specialist EOS) has Active Protection Systems, onboard training systems and situational awareness technology all brought together for the first time in a dedicated IFV turret.
Hanwha says that all integration work needed to prepare the Redback for the RMA trials has been undertaken lo- cally by members of Team Redback as part of an Australian Industry Capability component of Hanwha’s
Land 400 Phase 3 bid.
from the company’s plant in Unanderra, just south of Sydney. A range of other technologies will be showcased includ- ing an Australian developed T2000 turret that will be test
fired later this year as part of the RMA trials.
EOSwill develop, manufacture and support the T2000 turret in Australia. It will combine the proven Elbit MT30 Mk2 turret with EOS’ fire control and electro optic tech- nology, allowing it to maintain and update the key turret systems in Australia. The company has reportedly focused their integration efforts on improving interoperability be- tween high-tech components while maximising protection,
utility and vision for the crew.
According to the Price Waterhouse Coopers report com-
missioned by Hanwha, the company’s Land 400 Phase 3 Australian Industry Capability package will generate $9 billion in total economic impacts across Australia with $5.7 billion generated in Victoria.
“The Redback would represent a huge step forward for the Australia Defence Force in terms of its capability to deliver land forces safely and effectively in very high threat scenarios,” Cho said.
Redback’s main armament is a Mk44S Bushmaster II 30mm cannon capable of fir- ing all natures of 30mm x 173mm ammuni- tion in service with 19 nations, including the US, the UK, and other allies and NATO forces. The cannon fires ammunition from numerous providers, including advanced munitions such as proximity fused rounds.
“DEPENDING ON HOW THE FIGURES ARE CALCULATED, LAND 400 PHASE 3 IS A $18-27 BILLION OPPORTUNITY FOR INDUSTRY.”
“Local production of the Redback by Hanwha Defense Australia also represents a significant opportunity for Australian in- dustry and could become the cornerstone of advanced manufacturing and technolo- gy transfer between the Republic of Korea and Australia.”
Rheinmetall has unveiled the first of three Lynx KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicles de- signed, developed and manufactured for the Land 400 Phase 3 program.
Every cannon is fitted with a fuse setter
for programmable rounds such as program-
mable air burst munition and proximity fused rounds. It can also be rapidly upgraded to the 40mm Supershot by exchanging three parts, giving increased lethality without the need to modify the turret or cannon.
The Redback is also armed with a 7.62mm co-axially mounted machine gun, and the Electro Optic System’s re- mote weapons station can be fitted with a range of weapons including 7.62mm machine gun, .50 calibre machine and an automatic grenade launcher.
“The Redback is a highly advanced infantry fighting vehi- cle and I believe it to be the safest and most lethal on offer to the Commonwealth,” Richard Cho, Managing Director of Hanwha Defense Australia, said. “The RMA is a great opportunity for the Commonwealth to become familiar with the highly advanced technology seamlessly integrated in Redback.
“The Iron Vision system that allows the Redback’s crew to effectively look through the hull of the vehicle as though it isn’t there is an absolute game changer when it comes to operating heavy armoured vehicles in close company with dismounted troops."
If selected for Land 400 Phase 3, Hanwha will construct the vehicles at a purpose-built facility in Greater Geelong. The three Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles to be used in the RMA have been built using Australian made Bisalloy steel
If successful, the Lynx fleet will be manu- factured in Queensland at Rheinmetall’s new Military Ve- hicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank,
south-west of Brisbane.
Lynx was unveiled at a closed ceremony with selected Aus-
tralian industry partners at the MILVEHCOE. Each of the Lynx vehicles delivered into the RMA trials will incorporate a 'significant level' of Australian industry content and local partners to the Rheinmetall offer for Land 400 Phase 3.
“Rheinmetall looks forward to demonstrating the capa- bility of this next generation infantry fighting vehicle,” Rhe- inmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stew- art said. “We believe Lynx is the best vehicle in its class and sets a new standard in protection and the lethality needed to survive and defeat any adversary.
“Lynx has been developed so it is positioned at an ideal level of maturity when Australia needs it to enter service - and it will have a growth path to extend these capabilities through its 40-year life.”
Lynx has been selected by the Hungarian Armed Forc- es for the delivery of more than 200 vehicles in the first launch order for the vehicle globally. Rheinmetall Defence Australia will export turrets to the value of $150 million manufactured in Australia – and says it will soon announce further export orders into the Hungarian program includ- ing orders for Australian SMEs. ■