South Korea’s Hanwha Defense has formed an international partnership with leading defence manufacturers in the UK to develop a local variant of the self-propelled howitzer, K9 Thunder, for the British Army. In a bid to bolster its chances of winning...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
South Korea’s Hanwha Defense has formed an international partnership with leading defence manufacturers in the UK to develop a local variant of the self-propelled howitzer, K9 Thunder, for the British Army.
In a bid to bolster its chances of winning the British arms deals, the companies plan to come together as “Team Thunder” to bid to manufacture and supply self-propelled howitzers for the Royal Artillery as part of the Mobile Fires Platform Programme operated by the Ministry of Defence.
During the ongoing DSEI, Hanwha Defense is expected to sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to form “Team Thunder,” which includes Leonardo UK; Pearson Engineering; Horstman Defence Systems; and Soucy Defense of the Soucy Group. Lockheed Martin UK is also in talks to join the Team Thunder and more partners may be announced later.
At the event, Hanwha Defense has put on display up-to-date defence platforms, including the K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH), the next-generation Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), and the Multi-Purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (M-UGV).
The 155mm/52-calibre K9 Thunder is one of the best-selling SPH, as nearly 1,700 K9 variants are in service in seven nations including South Korea, Turkey, Poland, Finland, Norway, India, Estonia. Australia would be the eighth customer for the K9 SPH solution with negotiations underway.
K9’s UK version is to feature enhanced lethality, protection and mobility. Equipped with a fully automated ammunition loading system, the K9A2 is to have an increased rate of fire of nine rounds per minute. The newer K9 variant will also be fitted with mine protection kits and composite rubber tracks.
“The United Kingdom is the first international market to which the newest variant of the K9 SPH is being offered, and we hope the UK defence industry will serve as a supply chain bases for the global K9 family of vehicles,” said Sun Wi, Director of MFP Program, Hanwha Defense.
In a step towards building a robust industrial partnership in the UK, Hanwha Defense is scheduled to sign formal agreements with multiple local defence partners during DSEI 2021, Wi said.
Alongside with high-class artillery and armored vehicle systems, Hanwha Defense is exhibiting the Multi-Purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (M-UGV) at DSEI. It is the first time that Hanwha Defense has put its UGV platform on display in the European market.
The 4x4 M-UGV was developed in 2019 as part of a government project aimed at developing unmanned robotics to support infantry troops in various combat situations.
The 1.5-ton electric vehicle can move at a top speed of 30 km/h on paved roads and is operated either remotely or autonomously to carry out various missions such as surveillance, logistics transport, evacuation of casualties, and combat engagement.
The vehicle is armed with an indigenous remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) that can lock on the targets automatically using acoustic sensors to determine the source of gunfire during the confusion of combat.
A newer 6x6 version dubbed the Intelligence UGV (I-UGV) is set to be unveiled later this year. The I-UGV is to feature a payload capacity of 500 kg and a cruising radius of 100 kilometers. The South Korean Army plans to trial the I-UGV in coming months in effort to help review the vehicle’s operational effectiveness.
“Joining DSEI 2021 is a great opportunity to showcase Hanwha Defense’s sophisticated defence solutions and evolving technologies to the world,” said Son Jae-il, CEO and President of Hanwha Defense.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the world leader in unmanned aircraft from the iconic Predator to the YFQ-42A Collaborative…
Airbus has had a hugely successful week, racking up almost US $21 billion in deals and contracts at the Paris…
MTU Aero Engines closed its participation at this year’s edition of the Paris Air Show with record engine orders worth…
Indian state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has entered into an agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines, for the industrialization and…
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Electra.aero, Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities for Electra's EL9 ultra-short…
As demand grows and talent pipeline pressures mount, the need to drive at least 30 to 40 per cent greater…
With airframers not able to meet production targets this year and unlikely to do so in the next two years…
Leonardo and Avioane Craiova have signed a "Technological and Industrial Cooperation Agreement" during the Paris Air Show, aimed at deepening…
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has confirmed the sale of one Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft to the United…
The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has selected Daher as one of five companies to develop a Medium Altitude Long…
The Norwegian Air Ambulance has entered into a new frame contract with Airbus for up to eight H145 helicopters, including…
Eve Air Mobility has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Future Flight Global, a pioneer in electric aircraft, for…
EGYPTAIR has disclosed a firm order for an additional six A350-900s as part of its expansion strategy to meet growing…
Embraer has received a firm order from SkyWestfor 60 aircraft with purchase rights on 50 additional aircraft. Deliveries of the…
Four French aerospace companies - Daher, Safran, Collins Aerospace and Ascendance - are joining hands to study and define a…
The French defence procurement agency, Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), has inked a joint declaration of intent with Saab regarding…
Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo announced at the ongoing Paris Air Show that they would join forces to carry out an…
Sikorsky and CAE announced at Le Bourget on the third day of the Paris Air Show that they would be…
Aerospace and national security company, SNC, and Lufthansa Technik have announced a strategic partnership to enhance their combined capabilities in…
STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has signed a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of ten additional A350-1000 aircraft, taking…
The Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania has chosen the Embraer C-390 Millennium as the country’s next-generation military transport aircraft.…
Embraer signed Component Pool Program contracts with multiple airlines on the third day of the ongoing Paris Air Show. Currently,…
Embraer and Amelia, an airline operated by the France based Regourd Aviation Group, has signed an extensive services agreement, including…
Embraer and CAE are expanding their full-flight simulator network with the deployment of a state-of-the-art E2 full-flight simulator (FFS) at…
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology, a…
Lockheed Martin has confirmed a major advancement in the structural longevity of its C-130J Super Hercules, following a wing durability…
Airlink, Southern Africa’s leading full-service carrier, has announced plans to lease 10 new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft from Azorra, a US-based…
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure Ltd (RAL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, unveiled a strategic partnership to manufacture Falcon 2000…
In a move to bolster European defence capabilities, Quantum Systems and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a Memorandum of…
Air Astana Group carriers have continued their winning streak at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, held during the Paris…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.