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The Korea-based defence contractor has been tapped to deliver its self-propelled howitzer platform to a NATO member.
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The Polish Armed Forces has awarded a US$2.4 billion (AU$3.4 billion) contract to Hanwha Defense for the supply of K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers (SPHs).
The deal also includes the provision of 155mm artillery ammunition, along with training and logistics support.
Deliveries are scheduled to commence this year, through to 2026, with a follow-up execution contract set to be sealed by the end of 2022.
According to Hanwha, this latest contract is the largest global export of K9 SPHs, surpassing orders from nine countries — Australia, South Korea, Turkey, Poland, India, Finland, Norway, Estonia, and Egypt.
The contract was signed at a ceremony held at a military base in the northern Poland town of Morag.
The event was attended by 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 Jae-il, CEO and president of Hanwha Defense; and Sebastian Chwalek, chairman of the Polish defence group, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ).
“Today’s signing of the execution contract with Poland is a significant milestone in advancing the longstanding partnership between Hanwha Defense and Poland,” Son Jae-il, CEO and president of Hanwha Defense, said.
“Hanwha Defense will be the most reliable partner for Poland and is fully committed to contributing to Poland’s military modernisation and the growth of the local defence industry.”
This latest deal builds on Hanwha Defense’s AHS Krab SPH development project, which involved supplying the K9 chassis to Polish industry for the manufacture of the Krab self-propelled gun.
Hanwha Defense is expected to open a Polish business office by the end of 2022, aimed at further strengthening the bilateral partnership.
Poland’s award of a K9 contract to Hanwha Defense comes just a week after General Dynamics confirmed its receipt of a US$1.15 billion (AU$1.6 billion) contract for the delivery of 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks to the NATO nation.
The M1A2 SEPv3 configuration reportedly features upgraded armour, next-generation communications, fire control and lethality, reliability, sustainment and fuel efficiency.
The platform is also expected future technology upgrades in line with changing battlefield requirements.
[Related: General Dynamics wins major Abrams contract]
