The Government has signed contracts with Hanwha Defense Australia to deliver and support 129 locally built Redback infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian Army.
The total value of the project is approximately $7 billion dollars, representing the single largest investment in Army capability to date. The combined value of the acquisition and initial support contracts is approximately $4.5 billion dollars.
The Redback infantry fighting vehicles will be built at Hanwha’s state-of-the-art facility in Avalon, delivering hundreds of jobs to the local community.
Independent analysis forecasts that at the peak of its build, this project is expected to support approximately 2,100 jobs inclusive of 1,800 direct jobs.
The acquisition of these infantry fighting vehicles is part of the Government’s drive to modernise the Australian Army to ensure it can respond to the most demanding land challenges in our region.
Quotes attributable to the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:
“This is an important project for the Australian Army that will be delivered by highly skilled workers in Greater Geelong and other centres of Australian manufacturing”.
“This is a significant investment that will properly equip the Army so it can keep Australians safe. This is another part of our plan for a future built in Australia”.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:
“The Albanese Government is committed to investing in the Australian defence industry so we can make the critical defence equipment we need in this country and develop our sovereign capability.”
“This investment demonstrates Government’s commitment to delivering on the Defence Strategic Review, transforming our Army through the delivery of landing craft, long-range fires, and the Redback infantry fighting vehicles.”
Read the Government’s media release here.