Axalta Australia has been selected as coatings partner to Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) for the Land 8116 Phase 1 project, with the contract signed by Axalta ANZ Managing Director Steven Brett and HDA Managing Director Richard Cho in February 2023.
The arrangement involves the manufacture of 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers (SPH) artillery systems, and 15 AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles (AARV), commencing next year. Production of the vehicles will take place in a purpose-built 32,000-square-metre factory called the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE), located in Victoria.
Under the contract, Axalta will support the supply chain for coatings of both vehicles, and provide application training, coating testing capabilities, and technical support to optimise painting operations.
“The signing of this contract with Hanwha Defense Australia provides further confirmation that Axalta understands the quality requirements, challenges, and inherent risk to manufacturers supplying the defence industry,” said Michael Busch, OEM and Military Manager at Axalta.
“We are extremely proud of our new partnership with Hanwha and look forward to supporting them when local production begins in Geelong at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in 2024.”
Axalta’s specialist military team has worked closely with Hanwha in Australia and Korea, demonstrating the company’s range of military coatings, specialist application training, and ongoing technical support to meet military requirements.