Hanwha Redback IFV Selected by Australia

Soldiers from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, stand with Hanwha Defence Australia Redback IFV (left) and Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 IFV (right), during user evaluation trials at Puckapunyal, Victoria, in mid-2021 [Commonwealth Copyright, ADoD: Sgt Jake Sims]

Media reports from Australia are stating that the Hanwha Redback IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) has won the LAND 400 Phase 3 contract.

Originally Australia planned to purchase 450 Infantry Fighting Vehicles but following a change of Government and a Defence Strategic Review, it was announced that the total would be pared back to just 129. Two vehicles have been evaluated for the LAND 300 Phase 3 IFV requirement, the Redback from Hanwha of South Korea and the Lynx KF41 from Rheinmetall of Germany, but before a decision was finally made both companies were asked to resubmit costings.

Hanwha Defense Australia Redback (left) and Rheinmetall Defence Australia KF-41 Lynx next to HMAS *Adelaide* at HMAS *Kuttabul* in late 2021 [© ADoD: ABIS Benjamin Ricketts]

At time of writing, lunchtime in the UK, it is the middle of the night in Australia and South Korea so it is unsurprising neither the Australian Department of Defence nor Hanwha have yet uploaded / circulated a press release on this topic; we will issue an update if/when we receive official confirmation.

[Updated 14:45 BST ~ We now understand the official announcement is scheduled for the 27th]