Vietnam to Acquire K9 Howitzers in Landmark Deal With South Korea
Hanwha Aerospace of South Korea has signed a $250-million agreement to supply Vietnam with 20 K9 self-propelled howitzers, the nation’s first arms export to Hanoi following earlier donations of naval patrol ships.
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency will oversee delivery, with completion projected by late 2025, reports from Yonhap and The Korea Herald confirmed.
Broader Significance
The contract follows Vietnamese President To Lam’s official trip to Seoul, during which both countries agreed to enhance cooperation. With the purchase, Vietnam becomes the 11th customer of the K9 system, joining countries such as India, Australia, Turkey, Poland, Finland, Norway, Romania, Egypt, Estonia, and South Korea itself.
Vietnam and India stand out among these buyers for their historically close defense ties with Russia, which supplied about 80 percent of Vietnam’s arms imports from 2000 to 2023, according to SIPRI.
Why the K9?
The artillery’s high mobility, range, and competitive cost played a decisive role. Each unit, priced at $12 million, can achieve 67 kilometers per hour with a range of 360 kilometers, while firing high-explosive or precision-guided rounds as far as 50 kilometers.
