Defence boost for Australia: Pact inked for 45 Huntsman Howitzers; field trials begin

The Australian army has conducted its first home-soil firing of the AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzer, a milestone ahead of the system’s introduction into service. Crews have now begun intensive training on the platform, which represents a return to modern self-propelled artillery after decades.The AS9 is an Australianized variant of South Korea’s K9 howitzer developed by Hanwha Aerospace, and it will extend the army’s tube artillery range to roughly 25 miles.Australia is acquiring 30 AS9 howitzers and 15 AS10 ammunition resupply vehicles, with most set to be manufactured by Hanwha Defence Australia at a facility near Melbourne. The Huntsman system will equip the 3rd Brigade, which is being transformed into a heavy armoured formation.Maj. gen. Jason Blain, head of land systems at the Australian defence ministry, described the platform as a "highly mobile, protected and potent self-propelled howitzer, which gives our troops the best possible chance of completing their missions and returning home safely to their families,” Defense News reported.He added that "As soon as the last round leaves the barrel, the AS9 Huntsman is quickly on the move to its next mission, while ensuring our soldiers remain safely behind armoured protection."

Brigadier Ben McLennan, who commands the brigade, said his formation is transitioning alongside a wave of new capabilities, including M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks, AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles, Abrams-based combat engineering vehicles and Boxer 8x8 reconnaissance vehicles. McLennan also provided an update regarding the expected delivery times of the tanks.

The volume of incoming equipment presents a demanding adjustment for personnel.

McLennan acknowledged the challenge, calling it "a very steep" learning curve and noting that "These platforms are a step change for us — cognitively, tactically and physically."Despite the prominence of drones, loitering munitions and remote strike systems in the Ukraine conflict, McLennan argued that heavy armour still has a role in contemporary warfare."What the Ukraine-Russian war also shows us is that the more things change, the more they stay the same," he said, pointing to durable principles of field leadership, vehicle handling and rifle skills.The Huntsman program marks one of the Australian Army’s most significant capability upgrades in recent years, as it gears toward high-intensity operations with a more heavily armoured force.