In December last year, Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) hosted AirSense Analytics of Germany in Melbourne for a contract signing ceremony for the supply of chemical and hazardous substance sensors for the AS9 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) and AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (AARV) under Land 8116.
In a media release announcing the contract, HDA said the contract, worth over $3.5 million, will ensure the Huntsman family of vehicles are equipped with "the best chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat detection system to safeguard the warfighter".
AirSense was chosen from a competitive field for "the strength and quality of their solution", HDA said.
The German company is reportedly in conversation with several local Australian companies for the conduct of test and evaluation to support verification and validation activities. Both companies are planning for ongoing support of the sensor through an Australian industry partner.
Hanwha Defense Australia has been contracted by the Australian Government for the Land 8116 Phase 1 (Protected Mobile Fires) program, a more than $1 billion project to acquire self-propelled artillery systems. Altogether, the Australian Army is acquiring 30 AS9s, a 155mm SPH based on the Korean K9 Thunder, and 15 AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles (based on the K10) under the program.