Hanwha Aerospace has become the first South Korean defense company to officially take ownership of its own weapons platforms, marking a major shift in the country’s defense-industrial landscape. The milestone follows a landmark amendment to national arms export regulations, enabling private manufacturers to independently produce, modify, and possess military systems for research and export-oriented activities.
The company announced on December 2 that it held a rollout ceremony for a K9A1 self-propelled howitzer at its Changwon Plant 3 facility. The platform is designated for research, development, and marketing use and will be exhibited publicly for the first time at a defense expo in Saudi Arabia next year.
“This equipment will be exhibited for the first time at the defense exhibition in Saudi Arabia next year,” Hanwha said in a statement, emphasizing the importance of the new capability for global outreach.
For years, South Korean defense companies depended on borrowing systems from the military to support international exhibitions, demonstrations, and R&D. These loans were costly and slow, requiring up to 100 million KRW (approximately $76,000) per year and two to three months of government approvals.
A July 2025 amendment to the Defense Business Act—championed by National Assembly member Yoo Yong-won—reshaped that dynamic. The revised legislation allows firms to own select weapons systems for non-operational purposes, pending authorization from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
Hanwha is the first firm to fully benefit from the policy shift. It now holds proprietary K9A1 and K9A2 self-propelled howitzers, including the K9A2 variant undergoing full turret automation development, as well as the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). These assets will be used for demonstrations, overseas competitions, and internal development work.
In its press release, Hanwha underscored the significant savings and efficiency gains unlocked by the regulatory change.
“We were able to significantly reduce costs and delays thanks to the revised legislation,” the company said. It added that the ability to work with in-house platforms will speed up performance testing, accelerate innovation cycles, and enhance readiness for overseas bidding campaigns.
“Now we can conduct performance tests and development work more swiftly to increase our global competitiveness. The military also benefits by avoiding equipment shortages caused by previous lending arrangements,” the company noted.
Hanwha’s Redback IFV—recently tested at the company’s Changwon Plant 2 in November—will be showcased alongside the K9A1 in upcoming promotional campaigns. Both platforms play central roles in Hanwha’s export roadmap as it targets new markets across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
“With the support of the National Assembly and government, we are not only accelerating product innovation but also gaining momentum in opening new overseas markets,” the company said.
South Korea has rapidly ascended the global arms market in recent years, driven by demand for its artillery systems, armored vehicles, and missile platforms. The ability for firms to maintain their own demonstrator fleets could amplify this momentum, enabling faster customer engagement and increased responsiveness to international requirements.
Hanwha’s newly gained ownership rights are widely seen as a model that other South Korean firms may soon follow, potentially reshaping the country’s defense export ecosystem.
As global demand for proven artillery and infantry fighting vehicle platforms continues to rise, Hanwha’s strategic shift positions the company—and the broader South Korean defense sector—to compete more aggressively on the international stage.
