Australia plans to revive acquisition of self-propelled howitzers

The proposed AS-9 Aussie Thunder designed by Hanwha Defense Systems and proposed by Raytheon Australia. Photo c/o Adelaide Now News.

The Australian government has announced the revival of a previousl cancelled project which calls for the supply and delivery of 30 self-propelled howitzets for the Australian Army.

A previous project called the LAND 17 Phase 2 was cancelled in 2012 due to cuts in defense spending, although it was expected that the revived project would instead be called the LAND 8112 Protected Mobile Fire.

The Australian government wanted manufacturing and sustainment to be centered in Geelong, Victoria starting 2022-2023.

The project could be reset of the previous one, and may require a new set of requirements. It was noted though that an Australianized version of South Korea's K-9 Thunder from Hanwha Defense Systems was the leading contender in 2012 and offered through Raytheon Australia as the AS-9 Aussie Thunder.

Raytheon made a commitment to refresh their offer should the government restart the project.

The Australian Army currently has no self propelled howitzers in its arsenal.



[1] Australian Defence Magazine
[2] Geelong Advertiser