Hanwha Aero K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer Vietnam Export May Be Finalized as Early as Next Month [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Vietnam Poised to Become 10th Member of Global 'K9 User Club'
First Entry into Southeast Asia and a Communist Country If Contract Is Finalized

The export contract for the K9 self-propelled howitzer to Vietnam is expected to be finalized as early as next month. If Vietnam adopts the K9 self-propelled howitzer, it will become the 10th member of the global ‘K9 User Club’ and mark the first defense export signal of the year.

If the K9 self-propelled howitzer is exported to Vietnam, it will achieve the milestone of entering the Southeast Asian market for the first time.

On the 20th, an industry insider said, “Exporting the K9 self-propelled howitzer to Vietnam would be the first achievement in Southeast Asia,” adding, “Vietnam plans to acquire about 20 K9 self-propelled howitzers, with the contract amounting to approximately 300 million dollars (about 430 billion won).”

Vietnam has shown steady interest in the Korean-made K9 self-propelled howitzer. In February 2023, Defense Minister Phan Van Giang visited Korea, toured the 7th Mechanized Corps, a core ground force of the Korean military, and attended a briefing by Hanwha Aerospace, the manufacturer of the K9, showing interest in Korean weapon systems. In November last year, Vietnamese soldiers were also dispatched to participate in K9 self-propelled howitzer operation, firing, and maintenance training provided by the Republic of Korea Army for foreign military personnel.

Vietnam Considers Acquisition Following Territorial Disputes with China

Vietnam previously received decommissioned naval vessels from the Republic of Korea Navy free of charge, which sparked its interest in ‘K-Defense.’ Exporting the K9 self-propelled howitzer to Vietnam would also mean exporting to a communist country. Vietnam is located south of China, fought against the United States in the past, engaged in combat with the Korean military, and despite adopting a capitalist economy, still maintains a one-party communist system.

Until now, the Korean defense industry has implicitly refrained from dealing with communist countries or military regimes even as it expanded globally. However, with the intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China and changes in the international political landscape, Vietnam’s active consideration of the K9 has changed the situation.

Analyzing the Signal of a ‘Anti-China and De-China Policy’

Vietnam recently engaged in territorial disputes with China over the Spratly Islands (Vietnamese name: Truong Sa Islands) but recognized the limitations of its outdated weapon systems in confronting China. Analysts suggest that Vietnam has introduced Korean-made weapon systems as a new card. If Vietnam adopts Korean weapons compatible with those of NATO countries, it could signal that Vietnam is moving toward an ‘anti-China’ and ‘de-China’ policy.

According to a report by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), among 16 types of medium-caliber (152mm and 155mm) self-propelled howitzers operated worldwide, the K9 holds a 36% market share, ranking first. Since 2010, out of 1,401 155mm self-propelled howitzers traded globally, 626 units (45%) were K9s.

Following ground exports, aerospace exports are also imminent. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is negotiating with the Philippines for additional supply of the FA-50 multi-role fighter. A contract to supply 12 FA-50s worth about 1 trillion won could be signed as early as the first half of this year.

Philippines Nears Contract for Additional FA-50 Acquisition

The Philippine Department of National Defense officially approved the ‘Terms of Reference (TOR)’ detailing the negotiation guidelines for the FA-50 acquisition on the 17th. The Philippines has allocated a budget of about 1 trillion won (40 billion pesos) to acquire 12 additional FA-50s. Previously, in 2014, the Philippines procured 12 FA-50PHs, a Philippine-modified version of the FA-50, from KAI and operates them as a core air force asset. In September last year, KAI was also selected as the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider for the FA-50PH.

An industry official said, “Although the final contract has not yet been concluded, the approval of the TOR means the Philippines contract has passed the critical stage,” adding, “Attention is also focused on whether KAI will succeed in exporting the FA-50 additionally to Uzbekistan as well as the Philippines.”

Defense Export Pace May Accelerate Despite Delays Due to Martial Law

As large-scale defense exports become visible, the government set the K-Defense export target at 20 billion dollars this year. This is because the second export contract for 820 K2 tanks to Poland, which was not concluded last year, is also expected to be finalized this year. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has set annual defense export targets but has not achieved them. Defense export revenue peaked at 17.3 billion dollars in 2022, then declined for three consecutive years to 13.5 billion dollars in 2023 and 10 billion dollars in 2024.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that the aftermath of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law last year is negatively affecting exports of K-Defense weapon systems. In fact, after the martial law incident, there were reports that the Polish side felt no urgency to expedite the contract. During the martial law situation, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, who was visiting Korea, canceled his schedule to tour the Korean-made mobility helicopter production site and hurriedly returned home. The commander of the UAE Air Defense Command, which is procuring Korean air defense systems, also canceled his visit plans to Korea.