On 1 December 2025, in a landmark event for the Australian Army, artillery crews conducted the first live-fire exercises on Australian soil using the new AS9 Huntsman 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. The drills took place at the Puckapunyal Military Area (Victoria), where personnel from the School of Artillery and the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery executed the inaugural round of firing. The exercise afforded the first live validation of the platform under Australian operational conditions.
Background — The Journey to Huntsman Live Fire
The AS9 Huntsman is the Australian variant of the South Korean K9 Thunder tracked self-propelled howitzer, acquired under a 2021 contract worth roughly AUD 1 billion. The agreement, part of the Land 8116 Phase 1 program (also known as the Protected Mobile Fires programme), calls for delivery of 30 AS9 howitzers along with 15 AS10 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (AARV) units. Under the contract, after initial vehicles delivered from South Korea, subsequent units are to be assembled domestically at the new infrastructure of Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) in Geelong, Victoria by 2027.
The first deliveries occurred in late 2024, when two AS9s and one AS10 were transferred to HDA, marking the physical start of the program.
Details of the Live Fire: What the Exercise Demonstrated
During the December 1 exercise at Puckapunyal, AS9 crews ran through full firing procedures, including gun laying, loading, and fire control routines. According to the Australian Department of Defense, the live firing allowed validation of gunnery procedures, mobility workflows, and integration of the digital fire control system under Australian conditions.
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The AS9 Huntsman is crewed by five soldiers — commander, gunner, assistant gunner, loader, and driver — and is designed for “speed, lethality and survivability.” Its 155 mm/52-caliber main gun can fire standard rounds out to approximately 40 km, while rocket-assisted or specialized munitions extend reach to 60 km. The platform supports a high rate of fire — three rounds in 15 seconds in burst mode, and a sustained rate of six to eight rounds per minute — enabling rapid responses and multiple-round simultaneous impact if required.
Moreover, thanks to its tracked chassis and automated loading/fire control systems, the AS9 can relocate quickly after firing — a key capability for survivability against counter-battery fire. The associated AS10 AARV supports sustained operations by providing ammunition resupply without exposing crews to enemy fire.
What Makes AS9 Huntsman Different — Upgrades and Adaptations
While the AS9 Huntsman is rooted in the established K9 Thunder architecture, it features several modifications to meet Australian operational needs. Enhancements include add-on armor and improved mine-protection for crew survivability, upgraded suspension and cooling systems to cope with harsh climates, and an advanced fire-control and communications suite that interoperates with Australian command-and-control networks.
The domestic manufacturing plan adds strategic value — the HDA facility in Geelong helps build sovereign defense-industrial capacity, creates jobs, and provides a foundation for long-term sustainment and possible future exports of the Huntsman family.
Strategic Context and Significance
The launch of AS9 Huntsman live-firing marks a generational shift in the Australian Army’s artillery capabilities. It underscores a broader transition from older to networked, mobile, precision-strike artillery — a shift mirrored across many modern militaries facing evolving regional threats.
The integration of the AS9 into the force structure enhances the Army’s ability to deliver rapid, accurate, long-range fires, conduct shoot-and-scoot operations, and support dispersed, mobile formations. In the Indo-Pacific context — with shifting security dynamics, rising emphasis on joint and distributed operations, and growing interest in allied interoperability — the Huntsman gives Australia a potent, resilient foundation for land-based firepower.
What Comes Next — Integration, Training, and Operational Deployment
The December 1 live fire at Puckapunyal was the first of what is expected to be a series of drills and training cycles designed to fully integrate AS9 Huntsman within Australian Army units. Over the next months and years, as additional vehicles roll out from the Geelong facility, the Army will conduct further live-fire exercises, develop tactics leveraging the Huntsman’s capabilities, and train crews across multiple artillery regiments.
The presence of AS10 resupply vehicles will be particularly important for sustained operations, enabling sustained fire missions with minimal vulnerability. As the full fleet completes delivery by 2027 under the Land 8116 program, the AS9/AS10 combination is likely to become the backbone of Australia’s protected mobile fires capability.
Conclusion — A New Era in Australian Artillery
The first live firing of AS9 Huntsman howitzers on Australian soil is more than a technical milestone — it represents a decisive leap in the Australian Army’s fire-support capability. By combining mobility, protection, automation, and long-range precision fires, the Huntsman redefines what Australian land forces can achieve, both in routine training and potential combat scenarios. As further deliveries and training roll out, the AS9 Huntsman is set to become a central pillar of Australia’s modernized artillery doctrine.
