Hanwha Defense has signed an exclusive teaming agreement with Oshkosh Defense for the digital design phase of the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) programme. The agreement is followed by Hanwha Defense’s recent success in Australia’s LAND 400 Phase 3 armoured vehicle modernisation programme and LAND 8116’s acquisition of the AS9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and AS10 fully-automated Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle.
The OMFV programme is a key element of the US Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle modernisation effort that includes replacing the M-2 BRADLEY IFV which has served since the early 1980s. The programme’s five phase acquisition plan will award the first contract in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2021, with the first units receiving their OMFVs in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2028.
Hanwha Defense is the leading wheeled and tracked combat vehicle and weapons systems developer in the Republic of Korea, with a half century of accumulated experience, capabilities and technology in multiple proven direct and indirect fire solutions. Expanding its global vision, Hanwha Defense has provided over 7,000 cutting edge combat vehicles to the Republic of Korea with exports to:
- Malaysia
- Norway
- Finland
- Estonia
- Poland
- Turkey
- India
Hanwha Defense has designed and is developing the REDBACK IFV for Australia with its enhanced lethality, excellent power, superior situational awareness and best protection in class. The REDBACK was shortlisted in 2019 as one of the two final candidates for the LAND 400 Phase 3 programme, with three prototype vehicles now undergoing tests and evaluations for the Australian Army’s Risk Mitigation Activity.
Hanwha shares Oshkosh’s demonstrated passion for quality and responsiveness to the customer. Like Australian and numerous other partner countries’ local production, Hanwha’s contribution to the OMFV solution will be built in America with American labour.
Jack Richardson
