Hanwha Aerospace Finalizes $253.6 Million Export Contract for K9 Howitzers to India
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Synopsis
On April 3, Hanwha Aerospace announced a $253.6 million deal to export K9 howitzers to India, enhancing military modernization efforts. This agreement builds on a previous contract, cementing Hanwha's role in India's defense landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Hanwha Aerospace signs a $253.6 million deal for K9 howitzers.
- Delivery to Indian Army scheduled by September 2030.
- Partnership with Larsen & Toubro for project execution.
- Contract reflects India's military modernization strategy.
- K9 howitzer has proven reliability and performance.
Seoul/New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) The South Korean defence powerhouse Hanwha Aerospace announced on Thursday that it has finalized a contract valued at 371.4 billion won (approximately $253.6 million) to export its domestically developed K9 self-propelled howitzers to India.
As part of this agreement, the firm will provide the K9 howitzers to the Indian Army by September 2030, collaborating with Mumbai-based Larsen & Toubro, as stated by Hanwha Aerospace.
This contract is in line with India's ongoing initiatives to modernize its military capabilities, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.
This deal comes after a previous contract from 2017, in which Hanwha delivered K9 howitzers worth 372.7 billion won to India by the year 2020.
Hanwha Aerospace noted that this new contract underscores the K9's established reliability in fulfilling the operational requirements of the Indian Army.
The company's success under the initial contract has also helped cement its standing as a reliable partner in India’s defence sector.
Furthermore, Hanwha Aerospace anticipates that this latest agreement will broaden the market for K9 howitzers not only in Europe but also in Asia. The K9 has already been adopted by nations such as Romania and Poland, according to the report.
“We aim to strengthen our partnerships with Asian countries, including India, by capitalizing on the K9's superior performance and our established track record,” stated Hanwha Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Son Jae-il.
In related news, last month, the government entered into two contracts worth Rs 62,700 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the provision of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) -- Prachand. The first contract involves supplying 66 LCHs to the Indian Air Force (IAF), while the second is for 90 LCHs to the Indian Army, as per the Ministry of Defence.
The delivery of these helicopters is set to begin in the third year and will occur over the following five years. The LCH is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter, capable of operating at altitudes exceeding 5,000 meters.
