Special Report: Australian Army fields first AS9 Huntsman artillery

Soldiers from the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, conducted the first live-fire of AS9 Huntsman SPHs at the School of Artillery in Puckapunyal in May 2026. (Commonwealth of Australia)

During Exercise ‘Southern Jackaroo', held at the Townsville Field Training Area from 29 May to 3 July, the Australian Army showcased the first AS9 Huntsman 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) to reach its parent combat unit.

The AS9 arrived at 106 Battery of the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), in late May. Although it was not actively participating in the army's largest multinational event of the year, it gave the battery an opportunity to showcase the 48-tonne AS9 SPH to other elements of the 3rd Brigade.

The first firing of Australian AS9s took place at Puckapunyal, Victoria, on 26 May at the conclusion of the inaugural AS9 operator course. During the milestone event, crews fired 150 rounds from multiple Huntsmen. The live-fire activity came less than two months after the SPHs rolled off Hanwha Defence Australia's (HDA) production line adjacent to Avalon Airport in Geelong.

Thirty personnel from the 4th Regiment, RAA, graduated as drivers, loaders, gunners and assistant gunners after completing the two-month operator course at the School of Artillery. Bombardiers and commanders then remained for a follow-on commander's course lasting another month.

Fielding the AS9

Major Fergus Robinson, commander of 106 Battery, told Janes that the AS9 marks the regiment's transition from towed artillery to self-propelled artillery, supporting the 3rd Brigade's modernisation pathway towards a heavy armoured formation.