During the course of this week, the Australian Army officially announced that it has tested its new 155 mm AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers with the completion of their first live-fire exercises, which took place on December 1, marking an important milestone in the induction process of the system. According to the information released, the activity was carried out by personnel from the School of Artillery and the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, who made use of training ranges located in Puckapunyal (Victoria region).
Referring to the testing and incorporation of this new platform, Major General Jason Blain, who serves as Head of Land Systems, stated: “The AS9 Huntsman is a highly mobile, protected, and powerful self-propelled howitzer that provides our troops with the best chance of completing their missions and returning home safely to their families. As soon as the last round is fired, the AS9 Huntsman quickly moves to its next mission, while ensuring the safety of our soldiers behind its armored protection.”
It is worth recalling that the new AS9 Huntsman systems are manufactured by the South Korean company Hanwha Defense, having been selected by the Australian Army in 2021 as part of a modernization program intended to complement the inventory of M777 howitzers. The main difference between both systems is undoubtedly their range: while the latter can strike targets at a maximum distance of between 18 and 22 kilometers, the newly tested howitzer surpasses it with a range of 60 kilometers.
In addition, the AS9 Huntsman is capable of firing successive rounds at a high rate—three-round bursts in about 15 seconds, according to reports—while maintaining a sustained rate of six to eight rounds per minute. This is possible thanks to a semi-automatic loading system that speeds up the process while reducing the crew’s workload. The system’s crew consists of five members (driver, loader, gunner, assistant gunner, and commander).
Finally, it is important to remember that Canberra is expecting to add 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers over the next two years to bolster its Army, through Hanwha Defense Australia. To complement them, an additional fifteen AS10 vehicles will also be acquired, which will serve as armored ammunition resupply vehicles; each with a crew of three and capable of supporting two AS9s.
Image credits: Australian Department of Defence
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