K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzer Demonstrates Power in Egypt

The Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX 2021) opened in Cairo from November 29 to December 2. Launched in 2018, EDEX is the largest defense exhibition in the African region. This year, the Korea Defense Industry Association organized a Korean pavilion featuring 10 domestic defense companies. The Egyptian military is currently considering importing Hanwha Defense's K9 self-propelled howitzer and K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, known as the 'K9 package.' (Photo by Hanwha Defense)

[Cairo=Joint coverage by the Ministry of National Defense and military specialist reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The export of the domestically produced self-propelled howitzer K-9 to Egypt is being promoted. If the export of the K-9, which began exploring entry into Egypt in 2005, is finalized, it will be the first case of entering the Middle East and Africa region.

According to the defense industry on the 30th, export negotiations for the Korean K-9 self-propelled howitzer are underway at the Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX 2021) held in Cairo from the 29th of this month to the 2nd of next month.

The export is being pursued simultaneously through the delivery of finished products of the so-called 'K-9 package,' including the K-9 self-propelled howitzer and the K-10 ammunition resupply armored vehicle, and local production via technology transfer.

The K-9 self-propelled howitzer developed by Hanwha Defense is currently operated by seven countries including Korea with over 1,700 units, and has previously been exported to Turkey, Norway, Finland, and Estonia. Notably, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi personally visited the Hanwha Defense exhibition hall, raising expectations for the export.

The defense industry is paying attention to whether the K-9 self-propelled howitzer will become the 'second Cheongung' in the Middle East and African markets. The domestically produced ballistic missile interception system 'Cheongung-II' is currently being promoted for export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a deal worth about 4 trillion won.

An Egyptian journalist covering the exhibition said, "There is great interest in introducing the K-9 in Egypt," adding, "Its performance is excellent and will be a great help to the Egyptian military. We hope Egypt and Korea will further expand defense exchanges."

More than 350 defense companies from over 40 countries are participating in this 'EDEX 2021.' About ten Korean companies including Hanwha Defense, Hyundai Rotem, Poongsan, Hancom Lifecare, and Doodoo IT are participating to promote 'K-defense.'

Hyundai Rotem is also focusing on promoting the K-2 tank and others locally. Egypt, where Subway Line 3 has been opened, is a familiar market for the company to the extent that Hyundai Rotem exports trains for Lines 1 and 3. However, since tanks are more expensive than self-propelled howitzers, export discussions have not yet been actively conducted.

A Hyundai Rotem official said, "Since last year, we have been negotiating exports of various ground equipment such as tanks," adding, "We expect good results in the tank business if we work with a long-term vision."

Egypt, with about 600,000 personnel in the army, navy, and air force and 480,000 reservists, ranked as the world's third-largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia and India based on 2015?2019 data (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute statistics).