A small Australian firm, Advanced Navigation, celebrated a significant achievement today by securing agreements with the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha to deliver innovative inertial guidance systems for various weapons used by the Asian company.
„We are thrilled to announce a contract with Hanwha Australia for the supply of inertial navigation systems for their Redback vehicles as part of the Land 400 program,” stated CEO Chris Shaw in an interview with Breaking Defense. The contract, valued at AUD 8.7 million (approximately USD 5.8 million), supports Australia’s goal of enhancing its sovereign defense capabilities.
The Redback is designed to serve as an infantry fighting vehicle to replace Australia’s aging M113 fleet. In July 2023, Hanwha secured a substantial AUD 5-7 billion (around USD 3.38 billion) contract for this purpose.
According to Shaw, this partnership, along with a broader agreement for Advanced Navigation to provide its precision guidance systems to Hanwha globally, could potentially result in a staggering 400 percent growth in business for the Australian company. However, details on immediate contracts under the larger agreement remain undisclosed.
Advanced Navigation specializes in fiber-optic inertial guidance systems enhanced by artificial intelligence, enabling them to function effectively in challenging combat scenarios where GPS signals may be compromised. This capability is crucial, especially as evidenced by the conflict in Ukraine, where traditional precision-guided systems have faced operational challenges due to electronic warfare techniques. For example, reports suggest that the effectiveness of the precision artillery projectile Excalibur has diminished significantly in Ukraine.
Shaw did not specify which systems his company currently supplies to Ukraine, though he confirmed their involvement there.
„Navigation warfare has emerged as one of the most powerful tools to equalize the battlefield,” commented Mike Smith, CEO of Hanwha Defense US, during the announcement event. „It has the potential to represent the most extensive non-lethal impact in modern warfare.”
This collaboration aims to develop high-performance inertial navigation systems (INS) for both autonomous and crewed vehicles, applicable across land and air domains. The agreement indicates a collaborative approach to production between Advanced Navigation and Hanwha, potentially paving the way for similar contracts in all countries where Hanwha operates its defense divisions.
