“Hanwha Defense Secures $2.4 Billion Deal to Deliver K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers to Poland”
Hanwha Defense finalized an implementation agreement on August 26 to deliver K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPHs) to Poland.
With a value of approximately $2.4 billion, this agreement marks the initial phase of the framework pact, established in late July, as part of initiatives to enhance the defense capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces.
In accordance with the recent agreement, Hanwha Defense will provide a comprehensive package of K9 SPHs and 155mm artillery shells, coupled with training and logistical support, spanning from 2022 to 2026. A subsequent implementation agreement is anticipated to be finalized as early as the conclusion of this year.
This agreement stands as the most substantial in the history of the K9 SPH’s international sales, with nine nations _ South Korea, Turkey, Poland, India, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Australia, and Egypt _ having procured the K9 since 2001.
A signing event was hosted at a military facility in the northern Polish town of Morag, with esteemed attendees including Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak; Eom Dong-hwan, Minister of South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration; Yoo Dong-joon, head of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense’s Office of Military Force and Resources Management; Son Jaeil, CEO and President of Hanwha Defense; and Sebastian Chwalek, Chairman of the Polish defense consortium, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ).
“Today’s signing of the Implementation Agreement with Poland is a notable achievement in furthering the enduring partnership between Hanwha Defense and Poland,” stated Son Jaeil, CEO and President of Hanwha Defense. “Hanwha Defense aims to be the most trustworthy associate for Poland and is entirely devoted to bolstering Poland’s military modernization along with fostering the local defense industry.”
The bilateral collaboration has flourished with the prosperous AHS Krab SPH development initiative, during which Hanwha Defense provided the K9 chassis to assist the local sector in producing the Krab self-propelled artillery for the Polish armed forces. The success of the Krab program has demonstrated the effectiveness of defense collaboration between Hanwha Defense and Poland.
Hanwha Defense plans to launch a Polish business office by year-end to further enlarge its presence in the European market, as well as to strengthen its partnership with Warsaw.
“Poland will serve as a cornerstone for Hanwha’s global advancement, especially within Europe,” remarked Lee Boo-hwan, Executive Vice President of Hanwha Defense’s Overseas Business Division. “Our aim is to forge more robust partnerships with NATO allies and local enterprises in Europe based on trust and collaboration.”
Hanwha Defense has already established contracts with four NATO member nations _ Turkey, Poland, Norway, and Estonia _ to deliver K9 artillery systems and is poised to compete for the UK Mobile Fires Platform initiative.
Developed by the South Korean government-funded Agency for Defense Development in collaboration with Hanwha Defense back in 1998, the K9 Thunder stands out as the most technologically advanced SPH solution, commanding a 52 percent share of the global SPH market. Presently, over 1,700 K9 units operate in seven countries, with Australia, Egypt, and Poland set to deploy hundreds of additional K9s in the forthcoming years, thereby likely enhancing K9’s market share significantly.
