4th Field Regiment 'Old Boys' Association Newsletter

The new suite of Assegai 155mm munitions, delivered under project Land 17 Unguided Artillery Ammunition, will increase the range and lethality of current lightweight howitzers and the incoming AS9 Huntsman. Commanding Officer 4th Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Simon Frewin said, despite the challenging conditions, morale was high and the exercise provided great training. “ It’s a fantastic new capability that increases our range to over 30 kilometres and enhances our lethality, which provides a capability leap forward for the brigade,” Lieutenant Colonel Frewin said. “The weather has been testing on our equipment and our soldiers but we’re learning all sorts of lessons, and just as calm seas don’t make great sailors, easy field doesn’t make great soldiers. We’ve learned a lot and are better for it. It also ensures that whatever the government needs us to do, wherever that may be around the world, we are prepared for that and the conditions we may face.” Assegai ammunition achieves up to four rounds a minute with enhanced range and strike radius, as well as providing a modular approach with the ability to mix and match projectiles, propelling charges, fuses and primers. 107 Battery Troop Sergeant Brenton Hebbard said it was a great first hit-out for what will be a busy year for the regiment. “It’s good to be out here live-firing the new ammunition,” Sergeant Hebbard said. “A lot of our young lads haven’t fired this high-explosive ammunition before, so it’s a good experience for them. Regardless of the weather, we’ve managed to punch this out and finish on a high note. Everyone’s excited and we’re just out here living the dream.” The ammunition is compatible with new AS9 Huntsman and AS10 due to be delivered to the regiment early next year. Article copied from Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter Hanwha Defence Australia recently welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and federal government member for Corio The Hon. Richard Marles MP to the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) to acknowledge the first LAND 8116 vehicles in Auscam markings. Batch 1 of the program vehicles (two AS9s and one AS10) arrived in Australia in December 2024 from the Republic of Korea. The remainder of the vehicles are being produced at the H-ACE, at the Avalon Airport Precinct. “We are excited to have the first vehicles here in Australia as we prepare to deliver this capability to the Australian Army,” Acting HDA Managing Director Dean Michie said. “Production of the hulls and turrets is already taking place at Elphinstone in northern Tasmania, and our production line here at the H-ACE has also begun work.” The AS9 Huntsman has been developed to incorporate learnings and experience from the global fleet of over 2,400 K9s and K10s, the most popular self-propelled howitzer globally. With the AS9 Huntsman, Hanwha has a proven 52-caliber 155mm gun system that is in-service with multiple nations around the world, including the NATO alliance. The AS10 is a highly protected and manoeuvrable Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (AARV) with a unique loading system that reduces risk to soldiers from enemy fire. Manufactured with Australian supply chain partners like Elphinstone, Kongsberg Defence Australia, CBG Systems, Penguin Composites, HIFraser, MMCLD, Bisalloy Steel, AME, Safran Electronics and Defence Australasia, Sigma Bravo, Thales Australia, Axalta and TEi working alongside the international supply chain base, Hanwha has made a significant ongoing investment in the Australian market.