Huntsman’s first shots in Townsville

When the first Australian-made AS9 Huntsman fired on its distant target, you’d have been forgiven for mistaking it for cracks of thunder, which is fitting considering the name of its Korean predecessor, Hanwha’s ‘K9 Thunder’.

CAPTION: One of the first Australian-built AS9 Huntsman systems fires during live-fire serials at Puckapunyal Training Area during Army’s inaugural AS9 operator course. Story by Trent Pollard. Photos by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Thirty gunners from Townsville’s 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, fired the new domestically produced AS9 self-propelled howitzers at the conclusion of a six-week course at the School of Artillery in Puckapunyal, Victoria.

From the production line in Geelong to completion of its first introduction-into-service training course has taken a matter of months.

Director General Systems and Integration Brigadier James Davis said the achievement reflected a coordinated effort between Army, the Capability, Acquisition and Sustainment Group, and industry partners to deliver capability at pace.

“This live-fire shows how effectively we’re working with our industry and acquisition partners to bring new capability into service,” Brigadier Davis said.

“To move from an Australian production line to trained crews conducting live-fire in a short timeframe is a significant achievement.

“Through strong partnerships, we are delivering modern, Australian-built capability that strengthens Army and contributes to a more self-reliant Defence Force.”

CAPTION: Soldiers from 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, carry artillery rounds during Army’s operator course on the first Australian-built AS9 Huntsman systems at Puckapunyal Training Area.

The AS9 Huntsman is a protected, mobile artillery system capable of delivering accurate fire at range under armour, designed to move, fire and relocate quickly to sustain fire support while reducing vulnerability.

Commanding Officer School of Artillery Lieutenant Colonel Chris D’Aquino said the training marked an important step in introducing the new capability to Army’s workforce.

“This capability enhances how we deliver firepower.

“It’s protected, mobile and far more responsive than what it replaces,” Lieutenant Colonel D’Aquino said.

CAPTION: One of the first Australian-built AS9 Huntsman systems fires during live-fire serials at Puckapunyal Training Area.

“For our gunners, this is about building confidence in a new system and learning how to employ it under realistic conditions.

“Training like this ensures we can put capability into soldiers’ hands quickly and safely.”

For many of the soldiers involved, the activity was their first experience firing the AS9 as a complete crew, translating weeks of training into live-fire outcomes on the range.

Gunner Maxwell Cleal, who has served for two years on towed artillery, said the course introduced soldiers to a completely different style of artillery, including driving tracked vehicles.

“The gunner puts all the information into the system, presses a button and it lays the gun,” he said.

The tracked platform allowed crews to fire once the gun came into action instead of going through a manual setup process required on the M777.

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