Norway signs third deal for South Korean K9 howitzers
Hanwha Aerospace has secured a new contract to deliver 24 additional K9 self-propelled howitzers to Norway, according to reporting by Asia Economy.
According to a report by journalist Yang Nak-gyu of Asia Economy, Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il traveled to Oslo on September 18 to finalize the deal with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA). Norway, a NATO member, previously acquired 24 K9 howitzers and six K10 ammunition resupply vehicles in 2017, followed by a second order in 2022. The new batch will also include additional K10 vehicles.
While the Norwegian government had initially considered German systems, the report said that the country ultimately favored the K9 due to its reliability, on-time delivery record, and performance in prior deployments.
According to the article, the new artillery pieces will be deployed with a freshly established artillery battalion within the Norwegian Army’s Finnmark Brigade. Located in the country’s far north, the brigade was formed in response to heightened regional tensions and the perceived threat posed by neighboring Russia.
Asia Economy noted that Norway has become only the second European nation, after Estonia, to purchase the K9 howitzer across three separate orders. The platform’s growing footprint in Europe has also opened new possibilities for additional South Korean defense exports.
Norway’s procurement history with Korean defense firms extends beyond land systems. In 2013, Daewoo Shipbuilding won a contract to build the KNM Maud, the largest logistics support vessel in the Norwegian Navy. The ship was delivered in 2019.
The report also said that Hanwha Aerospace is currently exploring export opportunities for the Cheonmu multiple rocket launcher, also known as K-MRLS. Norway had previously shown interest in the U.S.-made HIMARS system, but was reportedly unable to secure a purchase.
In line with European Union policies aimed at strengthening intra-EU defense cooperation—such as the European Defence Fund (EDF), the EDIRPA program, and SAFE lending initiatives—Hanwha is focusing on regional production partnerships to maintain its competitiveness.
The company already manufactures CGR-080 guided rockets for the Polish variant of the Cheonmu system, the Homar-K, and intends to use this local manufacturing capability to expand exports to additional European nations.
