Better Relationship
Hanwha Group and Poland are expected to expand their cooperation beyond military-related matters to the naval ship and space sectors.
Hanwha officials explained the current status and a plan for defense cooperation between the two countries such as the K9 Self-propelled Howitzer and the Cheonmu Multiple Rocket Launcher in a meeting with Defense 24, a Polish military media outlet on March 15 (local time).
Hanwha Aerospace signed a first contract worth 3.2 trillion won (US$2.4 billion) to supply 212 units of the K9 self-propelled howitzer last year, followed by a first-batch contract worth US$3.55 billion (4,655.8 billion won) to export Cheonmu Multiple Rocket Launchers.
Furthermore, Hanwha Aerospace is in talks over production of K9 self-propelled howitzers for Poland while signing a basic consortium agreement for the conclusion of a second batch of K9 self-propelled howitzers in February. For the second volume, Polish companies such as Huta Stalova and Bola will participate in the local mass production of K9PL.
In addition, Hanwha Aerospace is preparing to deliver the first shipment of Cheonmu. The company plans to cooperate with WB, a local defense company in Poland, in fire control systems, Yeltz in transportation trucks, and HSW in system assembly.
Hanwha plans to complete the acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in the first half of this year and seek to generate synergies in the business of special military vessels such as submarines. In particular, if the two countries have been collaborating mainly in the ground firepower field, now they are beginning to explore the possibility of expanding cooperation to the naval sector.
DSME’s business areas are special ships (warships and submarines) and commercial ships. The acquisition of DSME will empower Hanwha to secure the capability to build special ships such as destroyers, patrol ships, and submarines and secure an integrated business system that encompasses land, sea, and air defense products.