Contract worth 175.9 billion KRW with UK BAE Systems
Son Jae-il "Comprehensive defense cooperation with UK"
Hanwha Aerospace is strengthening strategic partnerships with British defense companies, leveraging the supply of propellant charges for 155mm shells.
On the 22nd (local time), Hanwha Aerospace announced on the 23rd that it signed a supply contract worth 175.9 billion KRW with the UK’s BAE Systems for modular charges (MCS) for 155mm shells. The cylindrical MCS is a key ammunition component loaded behind the warhead, which propels the warhead out of the barrel to a designated range by explosive force.
Through this contract, Hanwha Aerospace has made its first export of charges applied to NATO-standard 155mm shells. Judging that demand will surge mainly among NATO member countries due to geopolitical tensions in Europe, the company has been researching propulsion charges that meet NATO range standards since 2019 and completed development earlier this year.
The MCS has enhanced the rigidity of the outer casing to withstand the impact from the automatic supply mechanism of self-propelled artillery equipped with an autoloading turret. If Hanwha Aerospace’s 'K9A2 self-propelled howitzer' is selected in the UK’s self-propelled artillery acquisition project (MFP), which Hanwha Aerospace is currently pursuing as part of a consortium, simultaneous export of the MCS is also expected. The MFP project is a 1.2 trillion KRW program to select the next-generation self-propelled howitzer to replace the UK’s main self-propelled howitzer, the 'AS90.'
Additionally, on the same day, Hanwha Aerospace signed a comprehensive business cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UK defense company Babcock. The two companies plan to collaborate broadly to develop global businesses on land, sea, and air.
Hanwha Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Babcock on the 22nd (local time) at Mansion House in London, UK. From the left, Kemi Badenoch, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade; Nick Hine, Managing Director of Babcock; Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace; and Moon Sung-kyu, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. Photo by Hanwha Aerospace
Babcock International Group operates in various fields including defense, energy, and military support. Especially, it holds a unique position in the UK for maintenance and parts procurement, making it possible to provide additional solutions linked to the self-propelled artillery acquisition (MFP) project.
David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock International, said, "We look forward to creating new synergies by leveraging the strengths of both sides and providing more innovative solutions to customers worldwide."
Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, stated, "Building on the first export of MCS for NATO member countries, we will expand cooperative relationships with British defense companies across various defense sectors to increase South Korea’s defense exports and contribute to the security of the free world."
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