Hanwha Defence has rolled out the first three AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers at its Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Geelong, Victoria, marking a key step in Australia’s LAND 8116 program.
LAND 8116 is an ongoing Australian Department of Defence effort to equip warfighters with 30 locally-built 155-millimeter mobile fire systems and 15 shell resupply vehicles.
The latest vehicles join an initial batch of three units, two AS9s and one AS10, that were developed in South Korea and shipped in 2025.
According to Hanwha, the new howitzers will undergo further testing and firing demonstrations before entering service.
They will also be used as part of a preparatory fleet for training Australian Army operators and maintainers at the Geelong facility.
“Seeing the first Australian made AS9s come off the production line and drive their first laps around our test track is a milestone that we’re all very proud of,” said Ben Hudson, CEO of Hanwha Defence Australia and UK/Europe.
“This program will see a game changing capability introduced to the Australian Army underpinned by a strategic partner in Hanwha Defence Australia. With the K9 User Community now 11 nations strong, the AS9 variant pushes the boundaries of the platform.”
Modern Australian Howitzers
Canberra’s AS9 Huntsman is derived from South Korea’s homegrown K9 Thunder, which now has a global fleet of more than 2,400 vehicles in service worldwide, including with NATO members.
Its accompanying AS10 armored ammunition resupply vehicle, modeled after the Thunder variant K10, uses an automated loading system designed to reduce crew exposure and physical strain.
A Huntsman is fitted with a 1,000-horsepower MTU MT 881 Ka500 engine for speeds over 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour, and can be armed with light support weapons, machine guns, and grenade launchers in addition to its 52-caliber main ordnance.
The first Australian-built AS10 is scheduled to roll off the production line later this year, with the entire LAND 8116 order slated for completion through 2027.
