Hanwha Aerospace said on Apr. 8 that it had signed a contract valued at 402.6 billion won (approximately $273 million) with Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a state-owned defense company in Poland, to supply key components for the chassis of the KRAB self-propelled howitzer.
The company first entered the Polish market in 2014, delivering chassis parts for 120 KRAB units under its initial agreement. In 2022 and 2023, Hanwha Aerospace followed up with the delivery of 364 K9 self-propelled howitzers across two separate deals. The KRAB, a domestically manufactured artillery platform, shares its chassis and core components with South Korea’s K9.
A Hanwha Aerospace official said the company is also pursuing an additional contract for 300 more K9 units, in accordance with the framework agreement signed with Poland in 2022.
Poland has emerged as one of Hanwha’s primary defense partners. In addition to exports of the K9 howitzer, the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, and KRAB chassis components, the company is expanding its footprint through maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for systems already in operation.
Hanwha also plans to propose its domestically developed Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for Poland’s upcoming acquisition program for heavily armored IFVs. The offering will be customized to meet local operational requirements.
In a broader effort, Hanwha Ocean, an affiliate of Hanwha Aerospace, is partnering with the company in a bid for Poland’s 8 trillion won ($5.4 billion) submarine procurement initiative, known as the ORKA project.
