Hanwha Defence Australia, a subsidiary of South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace, has inaugurated an armored vehicle manufacturing facility in Geelong, Victoria.
The Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence, or H-ACE, supports the production and sustainment of tracked armored vehicles through various facilities, including several assembly lines, a test track and obstacle course, a deep-water test pool, and a research and development facility. The Geelong plant is also geared to manufacture self-propelled howitzers and armored ammunition resupply vehicles.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, who attended Friday’s opening ceremony for H-ACE, said the facility demonstrates the strong partnership between Australia and South Korea’s governments and industry.
“This facility establishes a sovereign production and maintenance capability while allowing Australian companies to participate in the global supply chain, supporting local jobs and [the] Australian defense industry,” he stressed.
According to a Korea Herald report, Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il views H-ACE as a critical part of the company’s supply chain that builds on the bilateral relations between the two countries.
“This facility represents Hanwha’s commitment to Geelong, Victoria and Australia, demonstrating that the company is focused on the future of programs in this region, including howitzers, vehicles and other technological advancements beyond our current initiatives,” Son said.
“We will continue to collaborate with Australian companies and work toward integrating more of them into our global supply networks.”
Hanwha Defence Australia partnered with Conscia, an Australian veteran-owned small business, and Built Australia, a national construction group, for the H-ACE project. The initial phase of the project created about 100 local jobs, according to a Defence Australia statement.
H-ACE will initially manufacture the 129 infantry fighting vehicles the Australian government ordered in December under a $2.4 billion contract with HDA. The IFV order is expected to support 2,100 jobs, Defence Australia said.