Hanwha Defence Australia has selected Safran Electronics and Defense Australasia to supply their PASEO Joint Fires panoramic targeting sight on the Redback infantry fighting vehicle.
A long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance sensor, the PASEO improves the survivability and lethality of infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks.
“It integrates high performance day and night all weather optronics sensors and offers 360° coverage with a high-rate sectorial scanning capability,” Safran explains.
“The PASEO Joint Fires includes Safran’s Geonyx inertial navigation system, which provides precise and reliable positions, even if satellite navigation signals are unavailable or inaccessible (GNSS-Denied environment).”
Additional Features
Additional capabilities include advanced image processing, optional assistance for early threat detection and assessment (track while scan), and threat geo-localization (interconnected with an Inertial Navigation System).
“We are delighted to continue to support Australian Defence and Hanwha Defence Australia with yet another trusted and battle proven optronic solution where we will be supporting the design, integration and sustainment in the country,” Safran Electronics and Defense Australasia, Head of Sales and Marketing, Anthony Bianco said.
“It will be critically important that this superior capability is delivered to Australian Defence as we have done for the Army over the last five years.”
Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Hanwha Defence Australia has been contracted to provide a total of 129 Australia-manufactured Redbacks for the Australian Army, with delivery running from 2027 to 2028.
The 4 billion Australian dollar ($2.68 billion) contract includes the development and delivery of training system and support system components.
The Redback is based on the South Korean K21 platform and is an intended replacement of the fleet of 403 M113AS4 armored personnel carriers, first of which was inducted in the 1960s.
It features rubber tracks to minimize sound and vibration and advanced situational awareness systems.
Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with layered protection featuring advanced armor and an active protection system.