Australia shortlists Rhinemetall and Hanwha for infantry fighting vehicle requirement

The Rhinemetall Lynx and Hanwha Redback IFVs. Photo c/o Australian Defence Magazine.

The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) has announced that they have shortlisted the proposals for the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) project for the Australian Army (AA), which is part of the LAND 400 Phase 3 Project.

Germany’s Rhinemetall Defence and South Korea’s Hanwha Defense remains in the competition with the Lynx KF41 and the AS21 Redback IFV, respectively. Offers from General Dynamics Land Systems with the Ajax AFV, and BAE Systems Hagglunds with the CV90 IFV has been taken out.

The two shortlisted proposals will then under the Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) phase of the evaluation, wherein both will have to provide test vehicles within 12 months.

The Hanwha Defense AS21 Redback has a crew of 3 and can host 8 dismount troops, has a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour, cross country speed of 40 kilometers per hour, and an operational range of 500 kilometers. It is armed with a 40mm autocannon with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. w 
Meanwhile the Rheinmetall Lynx KF-41: The Lynx KF41 has a crew of 3 and can carry up to 9 troops,  have a maximum road speed of 70km/h, and a maximum rrange of more than 500 kilometres, with is armed with a Lance 2.0 30-35mm autocannon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and other close-in weapons systems.

Requirements released by the MOD during the Request for Tender (RFT) are for the vehicles to be able to carry 6 dismounts, ability to be deployed with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Canberra-class landing helicopter dock, and ability to be airlifted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlifters.

It also requires a manned turret instead of unmanned ones, 

The LAND 400 Phase 3 project aims to replace the AA’s fleet of M113AS4 armored personnel carriers, and is expected to be worth between A$10-15 billion (US$7 to 10.4 billion). A decision is expected to be reached by the Australian DOD by 2022.


[1] Australian Defence Magazine
[2] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[3] Defence Connect