U.S. Army Leadership Visits Hanwha Aerospace to Assess K9 Production Capabilities

The U.S. Army recently visited Hanwha Aerospace's domestic facility.

On August 26, Brent G. Ingraham, the U.S. Army's Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and his delegation confirmed the production capabilities of ground defense equipment, including the wheeled K9 self-propelled howitzer, at the Changwon facility, Hanwha Aerospace announced on September 2.

As the chief acquisition officer for the U.S. Army, Ingraham oversees more than 550 acquisition programs with a portfolio valued at approximately $170 billion. He has previously managed major weapon system acquisitions for the Department of Defense, including aviation, maritime, cyber, and electronic warfare systems.

This visit followed Hanwha Defense USA's recent contract to supply prototypes for the U.S. Army's wheeled self-propelled howitzer (MTC) program.

The delegation toured the K9 production site and examined automated processes that support mass production and quality control, such as robotic welding. They also observed mobility demonstrations of both wheeled and tracked K9 self-propelled howitzers, as well as various defense systems from Hanwha, including the multiple launch guided rocket system Chunmoo, M-SAM, L-SAM, Redback infantry fighting vehicle, and the Korean Vertical Launching System (KVLS). The two sides discussed options for U.S.-South Korea defense cooperation to support the modernization of the U.S. Army's capabilities.

The visiting group reacted positively to the level of automation in the production line and the demonstrations of actual equipment, expressing significant interest in Hanwha's production capacity and management systems.

Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, stated, "For over 70 years, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has been the cornerstone of peace and security, and defense cooperation is a crucial pillar supporting that alliance. With our proven manufacturing capabilities and global production experience, we will strengthen the deterrence of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and contribute to the U.S. defense industrial base."

Meanwhile, Hanwha Defense USA has recently signed a contract to supply six prototypes of the wheeled K9 to the U.S. Army, with an additional option for 12 more units and plans for local production in the U.S. as it accelerates its entry into the defense market.