“Team Oshkosh-Hanwha Secures Contract to Innovate the US Army’s Next-Gen OMFV Vehicle Design”
The Oshkosh-Hanwha coalition has been chosen as one of the five participants for the Concept Design Phase of the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) initiative aimed at substituting the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
The award for the second phase of the OMFV program was revealed on July 23 by the US Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA), setting the stage for a 15-month duration of work by chosen participants to develop digital concept designs for the OMFV.
Oshkosh Defense and Hanwha Defense established a partnership agreement in March to form a consortium and submitted a proposal for the concept design phase of the OMFV initiative, which seeks to replace approximately 3,500 M2 Bradley vehicles that have been operational since 1981.
The Oshkosh Defense consortium also incorporates Pratt Miller, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, QinetiQ Inc., and Plasan.
The OMFV initiative employs a five-step methodology to design, prototype, test, and produce the vehicle, aiming to create a revolutionary infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) that will excel in multi-domain operations.
Following the awarding of second phase contracts, the selected consortiums are expected to compete in another open contest in the second quarter of fiscal year 2022 for the subsequent phases involving detailed design and prototyping, with a contract announcement for the winning team anticipated by late 2027.
To prepare for the forthcoming competitions, Hanwha Defense formed an American subsidiary – Hanwha Defense USA – in May and is actively recruiting local engineers and specialists in IFV capabilities.
“Hanwha Defense USA is privileged to support the Oshkosh Defense consortium in our selection for the OMFV Phase 2 contract. This collaboration brings Hanwha’s vast experience in tracked combat vehicles to both the Oshkosh team and the US Army,” stated John Kelly, head of Hanwha Defense USA. “Furthermore, Hanwha will generate valuable US design and manufacturing employment opportunities in support of the OMFV contract.”
The Oshkosh-Hanwha coalition is set to present a contemporary OMFV design based on the chassis of the Redback IFV engineered by Hanwha Defense. The Redback stands as one of two candidates for the LAND 400 Phase 3 project, aimed at introducing next-generation tracked armored IFVs for the Australian Army.
Three prototypes of the Redback are presently undergoing assessments for the Commonwealth’s Risk Mitigation Activity, which will conclude in October. One prototype is slated to return home early next year for evaluation by the South Korean Army.
“It is with immense pride that the Oshkosh-Hanwha coalition has been shortlisted for the OMFV phase 2 contest, and we are wholly dedicated to developing a next-generation infantry fighting vehicle for the US Army,” expressed Son Jae-il, President & CEO of Hanwha Defense. “Hanwha Defense aligns with Oshkosh’s proven commitment to quality and customer responsiveness, and I firmly believe our coalition will deliver the optimal solution for the OMFV initiative based on our advanced technologies and expertise gained from the development and production of military combat vehicles.”
As a defense sector of Hanwha Group, Hanwha Defense is the preeminent developer of both wheeled and tracked combat vehicles, as well as weapon systems in South Korea, bringing over fifty years of accumulated experience, advanced capabilities, and technology in a variety of proven direct and indirect fire solutions.
Hanwha Defense has produced and supplied over 8,500 state-of-the-art combat vehicles to South Korea and various nations, including Malaysia, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Turkey, and India.
