Unleashing New Horizons: Hanwha and Norway Forge an Expansive Defense Alliance
Hanwha Aerospace is committed to enhancing its defense collaboration with Norwegian sectors, building upon the successful provision of K9 VIDAR Self-Propelled Howitzers since 2017.
In an effort to further broaden the bilateral alliance, Hanwha Aerospace conducted the ‘Hanwha-Norway Industry Day’ at the NHO Conference in Oslo on February 26. The event drew esteemed industry delegates from Norway, including Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA), Nammo, and over 30 other Norwegian defense firms. Seo Min-Jeong, the Korean Ambassador, also participated in this industrial partnership gathering.
“Norway is one of our pivotal allies in Europe, with whom we’ve forged robust collaboration through K9 agreements and partnerships with leading defense manufacturers in Norway,” stated Chae Hoon, Head of the PGM Division at Hanwha Aerospace. “This gathering was aimed at nurturing connections with Norwegian defense firms and investigating opportunities to bolster bilateral defense capacities and cooperation.”
At the event, the Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launch System (MRLS) received significant attention from attendees for its advanced long-range precision strike capability.
The Chunmoo, a 239mm multiple rocket launcher system co-engineered by Hanwha Aerospace and the Agency for Defense Development, presents a platform for potentially expanding bilateral defense collaboration, as the rocket launcher offers superior long-range precision strike capabilities with considerable advantages in delivery timelines and cost-efficiency.
Chunmoo’s adaptable architecture permits integration with vehicles and launchers made by other nations, as illustrated by the ‘HOMAR-K’ currently utilized in Poland, which merges Jelcz vehicles with Chunmoo launchers. The system is capable of firing 40 rounds of 130mm munitions, and development is in progress to support the commonly used European 122mm munitions standard.
The localized variant of Chunmoo is assembled in Poland by the Polish Armament Group (PGZ) and incorporates local command and communication systems from WB Group. This further illustrates Hanwha’s willingness to collaborate with local industries in host countries.
Evolving Partnership
The collaboration between Hanwha Aerospace and Norway commenced 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 partnership was further reinforced with an additional contract in 2022 for 4 K9s and 8 K10s, delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces earlier this month.
The successful fulfillment of these contracts has laid a solid groundwork for widening defense collaboration with major Norwegian defense enterprises overall. In June 2024, Hanwha inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KDA, Norway’s largest defense contractor, at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in France, facilitating 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 firms signed an MOU centered around Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and Long-Range Precision Fire Systems (LRPFS), underscoring the expanding strategic partnership between these two defense industry frontrunners.
