Charting New Frontiers: Hanwha and Norway Unite for a Bold Defense Partnership
Hanwha Aerospace is dedicated to strengthening its defense collaboration with Norwegian industries, building upon the successful delivery of K9 VIDAR Self-Propelled Howitzers since 2017.
To further expand the bilateral partnership, Hanwha Aerospace organized the ‘Hanwha-Norway Industry Day’ during the NHO Conference in Oslo on February 26. The event attracted distinguished industry representatives from Norway, including Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA), Nammo, and over 30 additional Norwegian defense companies. Seo Min-Jeong, the Korean Ambassador, also took part in this industrial collaboration event.
“Norway stands as one of our key allies in Europe, with whom we’ve established strong collaborations through K9 agreements and alliances with leading defense manufacturers in Norway,” expressed Chae Hoon, Head of the PGM Division at Hanwha Aerospace. “This assembly was designed to foster relationships with Norwegian defense companies and explore ways to enhance bilateral defense capabilities and cooperation.”
During the event, the Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launch System (MRLS) garnered substantial interest from attendees thanks to its advanced long-range precision strike capabilities.
The Chunmoo, a 239mm multiple rocket launcher system co-developed by Hanwha Aerospace and the Agency for Defense Development, offers a platform for potentially increasing bilateral defense collaboration, as this rocket launcher showcases superior long-range precision strike functionalities with remarkable benefits in delivery timelines and cost-effectiveness.
Chunmoo’s versatile design allows for integration with vehicles and launchers from other nations, exemplified by the ‘HOMAR-K’ currently in use in Poland, which combines Jelcz vehicles with Chunmoo launchers. The system is capable of firing 40 rounds of 130mm munitions, and development is actively underway to accommodate the widely adopted European 122mm munitions standard.
The localized version of Chunmoo is assembled in Poland by the Polish Armament Group (PGZ) and incorporates local command and communication systems from WB Group. This further highlights Hanwha’s commitment to collaborating with local industries in host nations.
Progressing Partnership
The partnership between Hanwha Aerospace and Norway initiated in 2017 with a contract valued at approximately $2.4 billion for 24 K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzers and 6 K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles. This collaboration was further solidified with an additional contract in 2022 for 4 K9s and 8 K10s, delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces earlier this month.
The successful execution of these contracts has established a robust foundation for expanding defense collaboration with major Norwegian defense enterprises overall. In June 2024, Hanwha signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KDA, Norway’s largest defense contractor, at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in France, paving the way for the integration of Kongsberg’s Integrated Combat Solution (ICS), Digital Vehicle Platform, and Remote Weapon Systems across various Hanwha platforms.
Back in June 2022, both companies signed an MOU focused on Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and Long-Range Precision Fire Systems (LRPFS), emphasizing the evolving strategic partnership between these two defense industry leaders.
