Construction of the Hanwha armoured vehicle centre of excellence in Avalon is expected to spearhead global business opportunities with the South Korean multinational’s wider operations.
At the Geelong Manufacturing Council’s first networking event of the year on Tuesday, Hanwha Defense Australia executive Tim Pickford and Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson highlighted the transformational opportunities that would build on the back of Hanwha recently winning the $1 billion Australian Government Defence contract.
Mr Pickford, the director of strategy and business development at Hanwha Defense Australia, said Hanwha’s defence operations represented less than 9 per cent of the giant Hanwha Group’s overall interests.
“And that 9 per cent is more than BHP and Australia Post combined,” he said.
Hanwha has a contract to produce 30 self-propelled howitzers, known as the Huntsman, and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles in Geelong.
It is also one of only two companies in the running for a multi-billion-dollar contract to supply up to 450 infantry fighting vehicles.
Senator Henderson said the self-propelled Howitzer project based in Geelong was a game-changer for the region.
More than 60 members attended the GMC Connect event at the Flying Brick Cider Co in Wallington.
