AS21 Redback

AS21 Redback
Name	Redback
Origin	Australia
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Manufacturer	Hanwha Defence
Designer	Hanwha Aerospace
Designed	2018–2021
Produced	2022–present
Service	2023–present
Weight	42 t
Length	7.3 m
Width	3.5 m
Height	3.0 m
Crew	3 + 8 passengers
Primary armament	30 mm automatic cannon
Secondary armament	7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, Spike LR2 ATGM
Engine	Diesel
Suspension	Hydropneumatic
Speed	70 km/h
Vehicle range	500 km

Contents

Design and development
Specifications
Operational history
Variants
Guidance and targeting
Users and deployment
See also

AS21 Redback The AS21 Redback is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle developed through a partnership between Hanwha Aerospace and Australian defence authorities for Australia’s Land 400 Phase 3 program. It combines a 30 mm autocannon, anti-tank guided missiles, composite armor and modern electronics to transport infantry under protection and provide direct fire support. The design reflects influences from contemporary IFVs such as the K21, Boxer, and CV90 while addressing Australian requirements articulated by the Department of Defence.

Design and development

Development began after Hanwha Aerospace offered a derivative of the K21 IFV to compete for Land 400 Phase 3, a major procurement program initiated following assessments by the Australian Defence Force and advice from the Minister for Defence. The vehicle integrates a two-man turret developed in collaboration with Hanwha Defense, incorporating systems from suppliers including Thales Group, Elbit Systems, and Rheinmetall subcontractors. Trials and prototype testing were conducted in partnership with Australia’s Department of Defence test ranges and independent evaluators prior to selection processes overseen by the Australian Army.

Armour and survivability features combine modular composite arrays and add-on armour packages influenced by NATO standards used by NATO partners and armored programs such as Merkava upgrades and Bradley Fighting Vehicle modernizations. Mobility development focused on Australian terrain with suspension and powertrain tuning comparable to systems used in the M1 Abrams upgrades and lessons from the ASLAV fleet. Software-defined electronics architecture allows integration with networks similar to those used by Project LAND 75-1 and interoperable datalinks mirroring protocols developed by Thales Group and BAE Systems.

Specifications

Key specifications include a combat weight around 42 tonnes, crew of three (commander, gunner, driver), and capacity for eight dismounts in the rear compartment. Primary armament is a 30 mm automatic cannon co-axial with a 7.62 mm machine gun, and provision for anti-tank guided missiles such as the Spike LR2 mounted on the turret. Protection levels are reportedly scalable with add-on armour for increased resistance against kinetic threats and improvised explosive devices similar to kits used on vehicles fielded by United States Army, British Army, and Israeli Defence Forces.

Mobility is provided by a high-output diesel engine and hydropneumatic suspension delivering speeds up to 70 km/h and operational range near 500 km on-road. Onboard electronics include multi-sensor situational awareness suites, battle management systems compatible with networks fielded by United States Department of Defense, NATO, and partner forces, and active protection system integration options analogous to systems like the Trophy.

Operational history

The platform entered prototypes and demonstration phases during trials in Australia and South Korea, participating in assessments with representatives from the Australian Army and industry observers from allied states. Evaluation events compared the design against competitors including vehicles offered by Rheinmetall, BAE Systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems. Operational concepts focus on mechanized infantry roles, combined arms manoeuvre with Armoured Cavalry Regiments, and amphibious support for formations similar to those seen in Australian Defence Force doctrine.

The vehicle has been showcased at exhibitions such as Defence and Security Equipment International and the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX), and has been the subject of memorandum of understanding discussions between Hanwha Aerospace and Australian industry partners to localize production and support.

Variants

Planned variants encompass an infantry fighting variant with the two-man turret, a command-and-control version fitted with extended communications suites used by formations like the Australian Army headquarters elements, and specialized variants for engineering, ambulance, and recovery roles mirroring variant sets produced for families like the CV90 and Boxer. Anti-aircraft and mortar carrier options are proposed to fit modular mission kits similar to those used by NATO partner programs.

Guidance and targeting

Fire-control and targeting systems integrate stabilized sights, thermal imaging, laser rangefinders and automatic target tracking comparable to suites from Thales Group, Elbit Systems, and French Nexter Systems developments. Integration with battle management systems and datalinks enables coordination with reconnaissance assets such as MQ-9 Reaper unmanned systems, forward observers from Australian Army units, and joint fires networks utilized by United States Central Command and allied coalitions.

Electro-optical sensors and gun stabilization permit firing on the move and engagement of moving armour and dismounted targets at tactically relevant ranges; missile guidance leverages wire, radio and fiber-optic options similar to guidance families employed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israeli Defense Industries.

Users and deployment

Primary intended user is the Australian Army under the Land 400 Phase 3 acquisition, with potential export interest from allied states and regional partners. Industrial cooperation and support arrangements have involved Australian companies seeking in-country sustainment, echoing approaches from previous programs like Hawkei and Land 121 procurements. Deployment concepts emphasize integration into armoured infantry battlegroups and interoperability with formations fielding systems such as the M1 Abrams, M777 howitzer, and reconnaissance elements.