Army self-propelled guns to be built in Geelong

The federal government has issued a request for tender for the building of thirty self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles for the army.

The request was issued to preferred supplier Hanwha Defence Australia under the army’s Protected Mobile Fires project and will provide better mobility, lethality and crew protection.

The self-propelled howitzers will be built and maintained during their service life ‘in the Geelong region’ of Victoria, according to the government.

However the level of local content is not clear as Hanwha in Korea is celebrating the request as an export win for Korea worth one trillion won ($834 million).

Hanhwa did say that it would ‘produce’ the guns in Geelong and that the facility will be involved in through-life maintenance.

Minister for defence industry Melissa Price said”: “This project builds on our efforts to strengthen Australia’s Defence industry capability.

“This project is expected to create up to 350 jobs to build and maintain the new vehicles.

“It will also provide significant opportunities in other areas such as transport and warehousing, as well as component manufacture and repair.”

The 2020 Force Structure Plan allows for a mid-life upgrade in the 2030s to incorporate emerging technologies

This story was edited.

Picture Hanwha

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