Hanwha Aerospace is dedicated to deepening its defense cooperation with Norwegian industries, building on the successful supply of K9 VIDAR Self-Propelled Howitzers since 2017.
In a move to expand the bilateral partnership further, Hanwha Aerospace held ‘Hanwha-Norway Industry Day’ at the NHO Conference in Oslo on February 26. The event attracted high-profile industry representatives from Norway, including Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA), Nammo, and over 30 other Norwegian defense companies. Seo Min-Jeong, the Korean Ambassador, also attended the industrial partnership event.
“Norway is one of our key partners in Europe, with whom we’ve established strong cooperation through K9 contracts and partnerships with premier defense companies in Norway.” said Chae Hoon, Head of the PGM Division at Hanwha Aerospace. “This event was dedicated to fostering relationships with Norwegian defense companies and exploring opportunities to enhance bilateral defense capabilities and cooperation.”
During the event, the Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launch System (MRLS) gained strong attention from participants for its sophisticated long-range precision fire capability.
The Chunmoo, a 239mm multiple rocket launcher system co-developed by Hanwha Aerospace and the Agency for Defense Development, would be a platform potentially for widening bilateral defence cooperation, as the rocket launcher offers advanced long-range precision fires capability with significant advantages in delivery timelines and cost-effectiveness.
Chunmoo’s versatile design allows integration with vehicles and launchers manufactured by other nations, as demonstrated by the ‘HOMAR-K’ currently deployed in Poland, which combines Jelcz vehicles with Chunmoo launchers. The system is compatible with firing 40 rounds of 130mm ammunition, and development is underway to accommodate the widely used European 122mm ammunition standard.
The localized version of Chunmoo is integrated in Poland by Polish Armament Group (PGZ) and features local command and communication systems from WB Group. This further demonstrates Hanwha’s openness to cooperation with local industries in customer nations.
Evolving Partnership
The partnership between Hanwha Aerospace and Norway began in 2017 with a contract worth approximately $2.4 billion for 24 K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzers and 6 K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles. This cooperation continued further with an additional contract in 2022 for 4 K9s and 8 K10s, delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces earlier this month.
The successful execution of these contracts has established a strong foundation for expanding defense cooperation with major Norwegian defence companies more broadly. In June 2024, Hanwha signed an MOU with KDA, Norway’s largest defense contractor, at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in France, enabling integration of Kongsberg’s Integrated Combat Solution (ICS), Digital Vehicle Platform, and Remote Weapon Systems across various Hanwha platforms.
Back in June 2022, both companies signed an MOU focused on Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and Long-Range Precision Fire Systems (LRPFS), highlighting the growing strategic partnership between the two defense industry leaders.
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