Hanwha Aerospace’s armored vehicle Redback garners overseas interest

Hanwha Aerospace Co.’s infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) Redback. [Courtesy of Hanwha Aerospace]

Hanwha Aerospace Co., a defense unit of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, is gaining attention overseas after being chosen as the preferred bidder for Australia’s Land 400 project with its infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) Redback.

“As a leading defense company in Korea, we expect to contribute to the national security of our allies and international situation,” said Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan on Thursday. “We will take the lead in the overseas entry of Korean defense through continuous investment and research and development.”

Redback is Hanwha Aerospace’s IFV developed to target overseas markets. The selection as the preferred bidder for the Australian project is also attributed to the Redback’s customized specifications that reflect the demands of the Australian army.

It is designed to enhance defense capabilities to withstand various threat conditions, reflecting the frequent overseas dispatch of the Australian military.

It is equipped with defense systems prioritizing crew survival, including anti-tank missile defense systems, and features stealth capabilities to avoid heat-seeking missile attacks. The name Redback was also inspired by Australia’s venomous redback spider.

Hanwha Aerospace’s Redback IFV is also gaining interest from other countries, including Romania and Poland.

According to local media reports, the Romanian government plans to purchase 246 armored vehicles by 2031, with an additional 52 vehicles to be introduced afterward.

In February, Hanwha Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding with the Romanian state-owned defense company CN Romarm SA to collaborate on the supply, utilization, and maintenance of its K9 self-propelled howitzers and Redback.

Last year, the company reached an 8 trillion won ($6.2 billion) deal with Poland to provide K9 self-propelled howitzers and 300 K239 Chunmoo multiple-rocket launchers.

Hanwha Aerospace, in the meantime, announced that it posted an operating profit of 83.1 billion won in the second quarter, down 5 percent from the same period a year ago, on sales of 1.79 trillion won, up 23 percent.