The Australian Army has successfully completed its first live-fire exercise of the AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzer — a milestone that marks the beginning of a new era in the country’s long-range firepower capabilities. The test, conducted at the Puckapunyal Military Area in Victoria, represents the first time Australian soldiers have fired the new platform on home soil, according to a December 3 statement by the Department of Defence.
Soldiers from the School of Artillery and the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, carried out the live-fire trials. The department hailed the event as a significant step forward in integrating the AS9 into the Army’s order of battle, as Australia accelerates the modernization of its artillery forces.
The AS9 Huntsman is Australia’s customized variant of South Korea’s widely fielded K9 Thunder platform, one of the world’s most battle-proven and technologically advanced self-propelled howitzers. Under the acquisition program, Hanwha Defence Australia — the local arm of Hanwha Aerospace — is producing 30 AS9 units and 15 AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (AARVs). Deliveries are expected to continue over the next two years.
While the AS9 inherits the core K9 design, including its 155mm L/52 main gun, it introduces multiple enhancements developed specifically for Australia’s operational environment. These include improved ballistic and mine protection, a strengthened crew survivability suite, and an upgraded digital communications system designed to integrate seamlessly with the Australian Army’s battle management network.
The howitzer also benefits from higher levels of automation to streamline loading and firing procedures. One of the most significant engineering modifications is the redesigned cooling system, optimized to handle Australia’s extreme heat during prolonged operations.
Externally similar to the K9, the AS9 Huntsman incorporates internal advancements that boost the vehicle’s performance in dispersed, mobile, and high-threat environments. The platform’s modernized navigation and fire control systems have been aligned with the Army’s command-and-control architecture, enabling faster target acquisition, improved accuracy, and closer coordination across joint formations.
Working in tandem with the AS9 is the AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle, designed to sustain high-tempo, extended-range fire missions. The combined system allows artillery units to fire, reposition, and resupply more rapidly — critical functions in modern, counter-battery-heavy battlefields.
With its 155mm L/52 gun, the Huntsman is capable of delivering long-range precision fires, an area where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has placed increasing emphasis amid evolving regional security challenges. Its mobility, automated systems, and reinforced protection also provide a significant upgrade over previous towed artillery systems.
The AS9’s debut comes as Australia intensifies efforts to strengthen long-range fires, mobility, and deterrence across the ADF. Canberra’s modernization initiatives include new missile systems, expanded land-based strike capabilities, and closer cooperation with partners such as the United States and South Korea.
Defence officials have characterized the Huntsman program as foundational to building a more agile, survivable, and high-output artillery force. The introduction of the AS9 and AS10 fleet is expected to transform the Army’s ability to generate rapid, sustained firepower across the vast distances typical of Australian and Indo-Pacific operational theaters.
