Korea has agreed to export KRW 1 trillion worth of K-9 self-propelled howitzers to Australia. Shown here is a K9A1 self-propelled gun. (Hanwha Defense)

By Jung Joo-ri and Kim Hayeon

Korean-made K9 self-propelled howitzers will be exported to Australia.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Dec. 13 said Australia's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group in Canberra concluded a contract with Hanwha Defense Australia to acquire the weapon. 

Hanwha said that under the contract worth KRW 1 trillion, it will send 30 K9 self-propelled guns and 15 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles to the Australian military. The self-propelled artillery will be delivered and manufactured in Australia at a facility to be built in Geelong, Victoria. 

In line with modernization of its military, Canberra is promoting the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project and has held final talks with Hanwha since September last year, when the contractor's K9 self-propelled gun was selected as the final model.

Hanwha said, "Continuous cooperation between Korea and Australia in military and national defense was the major driving force of this contract."

About 600 of the guns have been exported, starting with Turkey in 2001 and later to Poland, India, Finland, Norway and Estonia. Its strength lies in its overwhelming firepower generated from its 155mm/52-caliber gun, and high mobility and viability.

Australia is now one of eight countries including Korea to possess the K9 self-propelled gun. This is also the first export of the weapon to a member nation of the Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.

The howitzer was co-developed in 1988 by Hanwha (previously Samsung Precision) and the Agency for Defense Development exclusively with Korean technology.

After holding an expanded bilateral summit and signing ceremony with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, President Moon Jae-in on the same day told a joint news conference at Parliament House in Canberra, "Importantly, a contract concluded today for a project to supply our K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers will herald enhanced strategic cooperation in the defense industry between our two countries." 

"We decided to expand security cooperation in national defense, the defense industry, cyberspace and other areas."