Team Redback officially launches IFV for Australia
Hanwha Defense Australia and Team Redback on 12 January formally launched the AS21 Redback IFV, as they prepare to deliver three of the vehicles to compete in test and evaluation trials being conducted as part of the Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) for Project Land 400 Phase 3.
The new IFV is being offered to replace the Australian Army’s fleet of M113AS4 vehicles.
In its standard IFV configuration, Redback will be able to accommodate three crew, eight passengers, an active protection system and a turret equipped with a 30mm cannon and ATGMs. Other variants utilising the same hull, such as a mortar carrier, will also be proposed.
Land 400 Phase 3 is described by Shephard Defence Insight as the largest and most expensive project in the history of the Australian Army, with a predicted cost of up to A$27 billion ($19.5 billion).
The RMA in this programme involves detailed test and evaluation of the vehicles throughout 2021, with the aim of providing objective quality evidence to support a Government decision on the preferred tenderer.
Team Redback is led by Hanwha Defense Australia. Other current members include Electro Optic Systems, Elbit, ECLIPS, Milspec, Bisalloy, Soucy, Marand and CBG Systems.
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