What Happened
Korean Defense Giant Wins Historic Contract With US Army
Hanwha Aerospace, through its US affiliate Hanwha Defense USA, has signed a landmark contract to supply the US Army with six K9 wheeled self-propelled howitzer prototypes. The deal, valued at approximately $103 million with options up to $263 million, marks the first time a Korean-made weapon system has broken into the world’s largest defense market. The K9 howitzer has already been exported to nine countries and commands a 50% share of the global self-propelled howitzer market. Hanwha’s approach included establishing a robust local production and supply chain in the US, with plans to ramp up operations by autumn. This development was first reported by the Grand Pinnacle Tribune.