Huntsman tested in the field

The Australian-made AS9 Huntsman made its debut in the field, deployed for the 1st (Australian) Division’s premier warfighter Exercise Pozieres Run at Townsville Field Training Area.

The self-propelled howitzer, a protected mobile artillery system, represents an uplift in capability and fire power, continuing Army’s transformation into a modern integrated fighting force.

3 Bde crews fully tested its warfighting capability at the exercise in a series of realistic integrated activities.

CO 4RAA Lt-Col Simon Frewin said it was a game-changer for the regiment and as a single fighting vehicle, as opposed to a towed gun, gave commanders more combat options. 

“It’s an incredible piece of equipment. It’s loud, faster in and out of action, and can range a long way and has taken a huge leap in the capabilities for this brigade,” he said.

“It comes out of a hide to a firing position in seconds, fires off rounds faster than the M777, and moves very quickly back into a hide, and that means if an enemy does identify us, they are unable to respond in time before the AS9 has already moved to a new position.”