Hanwha locks onto Avalon for armoured plant

HANWHA has named the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct as the site of its Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence, and Deakin University is looking forward to strengthening its ties with the company.

As part of the federal government’s $1.3 billion Land 8116 Phase 1 project, Hanwha Defence Australia will build 30 self-propelled howitzers, 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles, and weapon-locating radars – collectively referred to as the Huntsman family of vehicles and a modification of the company’s K9 Thunder design.

Hanwha Defence Australia had earlier committed to building its Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence somewhere in Geelong, and announced the location of the $170 million, 20-hectare facility last week.

Construction of the specialist manufacturing plant is scheduled to start in the second quarter of this year and take 24 months to complete.

Hanwha is also one of two shortlisted contenders in a separate contract to build 450 Infantry Fighting Vehicles for the Australian Defence Force.

As well as the potential for multiple assembly lines, the centre will feature a 1,500-metre test track, a deep-water test facility and an obstacle course.

Avalon was selected from a list of more than 10 possible sites.

It is expected the centre will create at least 300 jobs, spread across construction, acquisition and maintenance, as well as generating ongoing support opportunities for Australian industry until the late 2040s.

Deakin vice-chancellor Professor Iain Martin said the centre would cement the university’s close connection with Hanwha, facilitating investment in local research expertise and the development of high-tech jobs.

Deakin and Hanwha Defense Australia signed a memorandum of understanding last year to drive collaboration in modelling and simulation, machine learning applications and human performance.

“Deakin and Hanwha share a common goal in the development of emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing, with a focus on growing the local economy through education and employment opportunities,” Professor Martin said.

Deakin deputy vice-chancellor for research Professor Julie Owens said Hanwha was one of the world’s elite corporations in the development of new smart systems and technologies and would strengthen Geelong as a national centre of advanced manufacturing.

“Research and education are equally important in developing local capability, and we are looking forward to the opportunities deep and significant partnerships like this will create for many years to come,” Professor Owens said.

Hanwha Defence Australia managing director Richard Cho said selecting the site was a significant step in further establishing Hanwha’s defence business in Australia.

“We will build a modern facility here in Victoria to manufacture armoured vehicles and utilise the skilled and experienced workforce available to us in Geelong.

“Our facility will be a genuine centre of excellence, one that we can expand and adapt to fulfil different projects across different domains in the future.”