Hanwha’s Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) test-fires a missile. Hanwha said that the vehicle succeeded in system integration of Israeli weapons. Photo courtesy of Hanwha Defense

Korea’s IFV keeps moving forward to win Australian contract

Led by Hanwha Defense, Team Redback has announced the achievement of two key milestones in the validation of systems integration for its Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).

The Iron Fist active protection system (APS) was successfully demonstrated in late 2020, and several SPIKE LR2 missiles were successfully fired from a Redback vehicle in early February this year, according to the company on March 16.

Both tests were conducted in Israel.

“The Redback turret was designed from the very outset to integrate advanced technologies such as Iron Fist and Iron vision and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles” said Gal Raviv, managing director of Elbit Land Combat Systems.

“The turret is designed to easily integrate these advanced systems as you cannot achieve optimum performance for the vehicle and crew with bolt-on systems.”

Team Redback, led by Hanwha Defense Australia, has been formed to deliver best of breed Australian and global technologies to military customers, including the Australian Defence Force.

The Redback is under consideration by Melbourne under an ongoing tender process for Project LAND 400 Phase 3.

Team Redback includes Elbit Land Systems, EOS Defense Systems, Bisalloy Steels, ECLIPS Logistics, Soucy Defense, Milspec Manufacturing and CBG Systems; with a growing list of Australian suppliers being identified to support the LAND 400 Phase 3 Risk Mitigation Activity.

Hanwha said these teaming arrangements are focused on making the Redback IFV the safest, most effective vehicle possible.

The successful tests are key milestones in the validation of the Redback’s offensive and defensive protection systems, according to the company.

“These activities demonstrate the combined capabilities of the Team Redback to successfully conduct complex systems integration,” said Richard Cho, managing director of Hanwha Defense Australia. “We are mitigating the key technical integration risks right up front.” 

The Iron Fist APS allows the Redback to detect, classify and defeat a range of threats.

It uses integrated radars and electro-optics to detect threats and then defeat them using two double barreled launchers mounted low on the turret to provide optimum coverage and avoid interference from other systems and roof hatches.

The SPIKE LR2 is a state-of-the-art anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) that builds on the global success of the SPIKE family of ATGMs. The Redback turret includes an integrated two-round SPIKE launcher.

“This firing is the last in a series of SPIKE LR2 tests from our turret and concludes the successful integration of the SPIKE LR2,” Raviv said. “I am very pleased to say that the turret and missiles functioned perfectly and scored direct hits on all targets.”

“I am enormously proud of Team Redback and the significant progress we have made,” Cho said. “These two significant demonstrations of successful complex systems integration on the Redback give me absolute confidence in the team and our pathway to complete the remaining validation work.”
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