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Australian Army validates Redback and Huntsman sea transport aboard HMAS Canberra in major fleet modernisation step
The Australian Army completed July sea-transport trials of its AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle, AS9 Huntsman howitzer and AS10 ammunition-resupply vehicle aboard HMAS Canberra. Crews repeatedly loaded and unloaded the tracked platforms using Navy landing craft and other ship-to-shore equipment around Garden Island and Sydney Harbour. The activity confirmed compatibility with existing amphibious lift and handling arrangements. Successful movement by sea is an important step toward deploying Australia’s new armored systems in littoral operations across the Indo-Pacific, although the event tested transportability rather than combat performance.