iscover
Former BAE Systems Australia CEO Ben Hudson will step into the role of managing director at Hanwha Defence Australia effective from 2 June, as the company seeks to expand its footprint within Australia’s defence industry.
Hudson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held senior positions with BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and General Dynamics, as well as serving in the Australian Army.
His leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in driving Hanwha Defence Australia’s (HDA) delivery of key Australian defence programs, including the LAND 8116 Phase 1 Protected Mobile Fires program, featuring the Huntsman family of vehicles and the LAND 400 Phase 3 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
“I am pleased to be joining the team at HDA during such an important point in the company’s growth,” Hudson said.
The outgoing acting managing director, Dean Michie, who will assume the position of general manager corporate, welcomed the announcement after a year of serving in the interim role.
Mike Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace global defence, said, “With this leadership transition, we are strengthening our commitment to supporting the growth of Australia’s defence industrial base and further enhancing the nation’s sovereign capabilities.”
Hanwha Defence Australia is a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, the defence arm of Hanwha Corporation, a Fortune 500 conglomerate from the Republic of Korea.
Hanwha Corporation, which has operated in Australia since 2005 in sectors such as mining equipment, logistics and sustainable energy, established HDA in 2019 with an initial focus on land systems.
Headquartered in Melbourne, HDA has rapidly grown its role in the Australian defence sector, securing major contracts to deliver next-generation armoured vehicles for the Australian Army.
In late 2023, the company signed acquisition and initial support contracts for LAND 400 Phase 3, valued at approximately $4.5 billion, making it the largest-ever armoured vehicle acquisition for the Australian Army. Under the LAND 8116 program, HDA is delivering self-propelled artillery systems worth between $0.9 billion and $1.3 billion.
All of HDA’s vehicles, including the advanced Redback IFV and the Huntsman artillery systems, will be manufactured at the HDA Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in the Greater Geelong region of Victoria.
This manufacturing hub is poised to boost local employment and skills development, further embedding Hanwha Defence Australia in the national defence industry landscape.
HDA’s growing presence in Australia reflects the federal government’s strategic emphasis on enhancing sovereign defence capabilities and fostering partnerships with global defence leaders to support the nation’s security needs.
