Hanwha Defense Australia says its selection of PTC Windchill product lifecycle management (PLM) software, supported by local technology company LEAP Australia, will enhance lifecycle support of the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
The Redback is under consideration by the Commonwealth for Project Land 400 Phase 3, the $18-$27 billion project to acquire up to 450 infantry fighting vehicles for the ADF.
Large vehicle fleets are complex and difficult to maintain. Data outlining the specification of original vehicle-build, along with maintenance, repair, and upgrade history, is key to a successful service life over many decades.
Hanwha says it has achieved a breakthrough in the challenge to deliver the benefits of easy access to complete, accurate and simple to understand vehicle data.
With support from LEAP, Hanwha has integrated PTC Windchill PLM software to make significant progress towards the creation of a precise digital twin for each fleet vehicle with the digital data-based version precisely matching the physical, operational asset.
“Having a digital twin that effectively mirrors every vehicle in a large complex fleet has been the ‘holy grail’ for engineers, maintainers and logisticians for quite a while,” Richard Cho, Managing Director of Hanwha Defense Australia, said in a statement.
“I am proud that our partnership between Hanwha and LEAP Australia has been able to make that breakthrough,” he added. “What the digital twin delivers in the real world is more efficient maintenance and support with less down time, and greater reliability and availability across the entire fleet. This saves money while increasing the battle readiness of military vehicles.”
Paul O’Shaughnessy, PTC Business Manager for LEAP Australia, added: “It has been a rewarding project to apply the Windchill PLM software, using a combination of the efficient out-of-the-box functionality and the highly configurable role and task-based apps, to help Hanwha create a single and unified digital picture for the IFV program.”
The Redback will feature as part of Hanwha’s display at the LAND FORCES Expo in Brisbane from June 1-3.
A further significant exhibit will be the K9 Self Propelled Howitzer, a forerunner of the AS9 Huntsman currently under consideration as part of the LAND 8116 Phase 1 tender evaluation.