10 Years of Effort Bear Fruit... Hanwha Achieves Success Exporting 'K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer' to Egypt

Export Contract Worth 2 Trillion Won with Egypt
Proven 'All-Weather Performance' of Coastal Defense Self-Propelled Howitzer
K9 Operating Countries Expanded to 9 Worldwide

Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Defense (front row left in the photo), shook hands with Osama Ezat, Director of the Egyptian Ministry of Defense's Power Department, after signing the export contract for the K9 self-propelled howitzer at the Artillery Hall in Cairo, Egypt, on the 1st (local time).

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Hanwha has achieved the remarkable feat of exporting the K9 self-propelled howitzer to Egypt after 10 years of effort. As the world's number one in the self-propelled howitzer export market share, the K9's first entry into Africa is expected to further expand its market share in the future.

Hanwha Defense announced on the 3rd that it signed an export contract on the 1st (local time) to supply the 'K9 package,' including the K9 self-propelled howitzer and K10 ammunition resupply armored vehicle, to Egypt. The contract amount is approximately 2 trillion KRW, making it the largest scale in the history of K9 self-propelled howitzer exports.

Under this contract, Hanwha Defense will supply the K9 self-propelled howitzer, K10 ammunition resupply armored vehicle, and the K11 (tentative name) fire control armored vehicle to the Egyptian Army and Navy, and support local production. The initial batch of finished products will be delivered by the second half of 2024, and the remaining units will be locally produced in Egypt through technology transfer. Equipment operation training, unit, field, and depot maintenance, as well as follow-up logistics support, will also be provided.

Notably, the K9 self-propelled howitzer for naval use is being exported for the first time. The Egyptian Navy has been pursuing the introduction of the K9 self-propelled howitzer as a coastal defense firepower system to perform area denial missions against enemy surface vessels.

Hanwha Defense has maintained long-term negotiations and a friendly relationship with the Egyptian military authorities for over 10 years. During the 2017 test evaluation process, the K9 self-propelled howitzer made a strong impression on Egyptian military officials by successfully hitting target ships.

Developed in 1998 in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development, the K9 self-propelled howitzer has been exported since 2001 to seven countries through various methods such as delivery of complete equipment, technology transfer, and local production.

Currently, more than 1,700 units are in active service in eight countries, including South Korea. The K10 ammunition resupply armored vehicle is the world's first automated ammunition resupply equipment, playing a key role in rapidly supplying ammunition to the K9 self-propelled howitzer and enhancing its combat sustainability.

The K11 fire control armored vehicle is a customized model designed to meet the operational performance requirements of the Egyptian military by mounting artillery fire control systems, various reconnaissance, detection, and communication equipment inside the K10 chassis, while improving mobility.

Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Defense, said, "It is highly meaningful that the K9 self-propelled howitzer has once again proven to be the world's most excellent and verified self-propelled howitzer solution. We will do our best to make the export of the K9 to Egypt a successful cooperation role model between South Korea and Egypt, and strive to contribute to the enhancement of Egypt's military capabilities and economic development."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.