Tasmania benefits from A$1 billion Huntsman howitzer contract
The Huntsman howitzer is based on Hanwha Defense's K9, as pictured above in a Huntsman promotional video. (Photo: Hanwha Defense)
Elphinstone is expanding to meet the demands of a A$1 billion contract with the Australian MoD to manufacture Huntsman howitzers.
The Australian MoD has announced that 55 new jobs are being created in Tasmania as a result of the A$1 billion contract signed with Hanwha Defense Australia for Huntsman howitzers.
Tasmania-based Elphinstone will manufacture 45 Huntsman turrets and hulls, completing the steel fabrication, machining and painting of the components before shipping them to Geelong for the construction of the howitzers.
The contract signed with Hanwha Defense Australia, a subsidiary of Korea-based Hanwha Defense, in December 2021, represents not only the largest military acquisition between Korea and Australia but also the latter’s largest-ever military acquisition from Asia.
The acquisition comes after Australia cancelled a previous plan to adopt the K9, of which the Huntsman is a variant, in 2012.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, renderings released by Hanwha indicate the Huntsman will be fitted with add-on armour on the hull front and sides.
A remote weapons station manufactured by EOS and armed with a 12.7mm M2QCB heavy machine gun will be mounted on the roof, as will a separate pintle mount for a 7.62mm GPMG.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![2025 land market review: British Army woes, European heavy armour and US MBT progress]()
2025 land market review: British Army woes, European heavy armour and US MBT progress
The last year has seen several major procurements in the land market. Shephard’s Dr Peter Magill reviews the main trends and themes in land procurement of 2025.
-
![Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions]()
Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions
Developed by Israel's Uvision and with systems being sold in the thousands to multiple European NATO countries and the US, the Hero family of loitering systems is also in production in the US and Italy, the latter through Rheinmetall.
-
![Croatia orders Leopards and CAESAR howitzers as Lithuania orders more CAESARs]()
Croatia orders Leopards and CAESAR howitzers as Lithuania orders more CAESARs
The Leopard is becoming the tank of choice in central and eastern Europe as Croatia joins Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Hungary in ordering the platform. Lithuania and Croatia have also signed for CAESAR howitzers.
-
![Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)]()
Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)
A new system-of-systems concept will unlock digital integration of sensors and weapons for Light Forces, allowing them to shape the battlefield environment on their own terms and upgrade legacy platforms.
