Israeli vehicle and protection system manufacturer Plasan Sasa is to establish a subsidiary in Australia, the company announced on 13 March 2023.

The subsidiary, to be named Plasan-Australia, will be focused on providing the best possible support to local partners and Australian projects in which Plasan is involved as well as improving technology transfer.

Plasan describes its co-operation with Thales Australia since 2009, in which the Hawkei 4×4 was developed and produced for the Australian Army, as its most significant achievement in the region. Plasan is currently working with BAE Systems Australia to integrate survival solutions into the Royal Australian Navy’s new Hunter-class frigate. Following co-operation with Hanwha Defence Australia on the K9 self-propelled howitzer and K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, work on the Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) project is to follow. The Redback is being pitched by Hanwha against Rheinmetall’s Lynx IFV for the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 3 programme, for which an award is expected to be announced shortly.

With the establishment of an Australian subsidiary, Plasan aims to secure the supply chain for the provision of relevant technologies into Australia and to build and sustain their support over the coming decades.

Gerhard Heiming