Overview
- South Korea’s trade agency KOTRA signed an agreement in Helsinki with Finland’s defense ministry for 112 K9 self-propelled howitzers valued at about €546 million, or roughly 940 billion won.
- Hanwha Aerospace will deliver the guns under the government-to-government contract, which officials say offers more stable and transparent terms than a commercial sale.
- This is Finland’s second K9 order after a 2017 deal for 96 units, a repeat purchase that South Korean officials cite as proof of reliable performance in harsh northern conditions.
- The K9 is a 155 mm tracked howitzer that can fire beyond 40 kilometers and has been sold to more than 10 countries, with over 1,300 units delivered since 1999.
- Talks began in August 2025 and concluded after about seven months, with the signing attended by KOTRA’s Kang Kyun-sung, Hanwha’s Son Jae-il, Ambassador Kim Jung-ha, and Finland’s Olli Ruutu.