Seoul: South Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Co. announced it has signed a 371.4 billion-won (US$253.6 million) agreement to export its K9 self-propelled howitzers to India. The deal, which involves cooperation with Mumbai-based Larsen and Toubro, will see the K9 howitzers delivered to the Indian Army by September 2030.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this agreement aligns with India's ongoing military modernization efforts. It follows a previous contract from 2017, where Hanwha supplied 372.7 billion won worth of K9 howitzers to India by 2020. Hanwha Aerospace stated that the new contract is a testament to the K9's reliability in fulfilling the operational needs of the Indian Army.
The company highlighted that its strong performance under the first contract has helped solidify its reputation as a trusted partner in India's defense sector. Hanwha Aerospace also anticipates that this latest deal will expand the K9 howitzer's reach beyond Europe and further into Asia, with the artillery system already in use by countries such as Romania and Poland.
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il stated, "We will further enhance our cooperation with countries in Asia, including India, by leveraging the K9's outstanding performance and our proven delivery record."