The Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) was opened by the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, on 23 August. The facility was handed over to Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) early by the company's build partner, Built, supported by HDA’s Managing Contractor Conscia.
"This facility represents Hanwha's commitment to Geelong, Victoria, and Australia, demonstrating that the company is focused on the future of programs in this region, including howitzers, infantry fighting vehicles and other technological advancements beyond our current initiatives," said Hanwha Aerospace CEO Jae-il Son.
H-ACE is being delivered in two stages, with Stage 1 now open and focused on delivering AS9 and AS10 vehicles. Stage 1 includes production lines for both AS9 Self Propelled Howitzers (SPH) and AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (AARV) as well as a test track, secure integration lab, and office space. The first three vehicles for that program, two AS9 SPHs and one AS10 AARV were handed over to HDA by Hanwha Aerospace recently.
Work on Stage 2 will begin next year. It will include new facilities, including an underground firing range, that will support the construction of Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles that are being procured through Project Land 400 Phase 3. Construction on the first prototype Redbacks will also begin in the near future according to HDA.
"H-ACE is a significant part of our global Defence supply chain, further strengthening the relationship between Australia and Korea. We will continue to collaborate with Australian companies and work towards integrating more of them into our global supply networks," Jae-il Son added.