On 21 November 2023, the Australian Army conducted a test firing of the AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer at the Proof & Experimental Establishment in Port Wakefield. The AS9 Huntsman is an Australian version of the South Korean K9 self-propelled howitzer, while the AS10 is an Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (AARV). This testing, overseen by the Joint Proof and Experimental Unit, forms a crucial part of the LAND 8116 project. The demonstration was aimed at showcasing the AS9 Huntsman for project stakeholders. An Australian Army AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer test fires a practice round at the Proof & Experimental Establishment in Port Wakefield.
Defense vehicle armour producer Plasan of Israel has successfully completed blast tests on the AS10 vehicle which is being purchased for the Australian Army under Phase 1 of the LAND 8116 Protected Mobile Fires (PMF) programme. The tests carried out with the support of Hanwha Defense Australia and Hanwha Aerospace from the Republic of Korea, involved a series of blast tests on the AS9 and AS10 Huntsman family of vehicles. Plasan of Israel and Hanwha Defense Australia are working together on LAND 8116 to ensure the highest quality survivability systems are delivered to protect the Australian Army.
The AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer is based on the K9 VIDAR variants that was developed for Norway. Some modifications were made to suit Australian requirements. The AS9 has additional armor and improved suspension. The K9 Thunder is a South Korean 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and civil contractors including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aerospace Industries for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and is now manufactured by Hanwha Defense. Completion of this stage of the programme is an important step in the development of the Huntsman vehicles.
In September 2020, the Minister for Defense, Linda Reynolds, announced a request for tender to locally build 30 K9s under the Land 8116 Phase 1 Protected Mobility Fires requirement. The sole-source request for tender will be released to the preferred supplier, Hanwha Defense Australia, to build and maintain 30 K9s and 15 K10s, as well as their supporting systems. These will be built at Hanwha Defense Australia’s Geelong facility. Australian Army will first receive two AS9s, modelled off the South Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer (SPH), and an AS10 ammunition resupply vehicle (ARV) imported from South Korea.
