Hanwha Aerospace officially opens armoured vehicle factory in Australia

Hanwha Aerospace has officially inaugurated the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Geelong, Australia, marking the first overseas production base established by a South Korean defence company.

Attending the formal opening ceremony of H-ACE on 23 August 2024 were Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Jong-gun Seok, Australian Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart and Australian Head of Land Capability Major General Richard Vagg, along with other dignitaries from around the world. The facility is expected to strengthen the relationship between Australia and South Korea, bringing high-technology vehicle manufacturing back to the Geelong region.

H-ACE is set to initiate the production of the AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer and the AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicle, 30 and 15 of which respectively were ordered for the Australian Army in December 2021. Moreover, the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, 129 of which were ordered for the Australian Army in December 2023, will be manufactured at H-ACE following the successful delivery of prototype products after 2026.

“This facility represents Hanwha’s commitment to Geelong, Victoria, and Australia, demonstrating that the company is focused on the future of programmes in this region, including howitzers, vehicles and other technological advancements beyond our current initiatives,” Jae-il Son, CEO and president of Hanwha Aerospace, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “H-ACE is a significant part of our global defence supply chain, further strengthening the relationship between Australia and Korea. We will continue to collaborate with Australian companies and work towards integrating more of them into our global supply networks.”

Hanwha Aerospace is accelerating its entry into the AUKUS markets through the completion of the Australian factory.

As demand for defence products increases in the Indo-Pacific region due to geopolitical crises, Hanwha Aerospace will look to utilise H-ACE as a production base not only for Australia but also for major allied countries in the region.

The H-ACE facility, built on a site of approximately 150,000 m², includes a total of 11 facilities, including the main building, production building, assembly plant, driving test site and shooting range.

Located an hour’s drive from Melbourne and 10 minutes from Avalon Airport, the area’s accessibility provides logistical and hiring advantages.