South Korea has secured a new defense export contract to supply K9 self-propelled howitzers to Finland, underscoring the system’s competitiveness after years of proven performance in harsh northern conditions.
The agreement, signed April 9 local time in Helsinki, calls for Hanwha Aerospace to deliver 112 K9 howitzers to Finland’s Ministry of Defense in a deal valued at about $590 million.
The contract was structured as a government-to-government agreement, with Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency representing the South Korean government as a contracting party. Senior defense and military officials from both countries attended the signing ceremony.
The order follows Finland’s initial purchase of 96 K9 units in 2017 under a similar framework. The repeat deal comes after nearly eight years of operation in extreme conditions, where the system demonstrated strong mobility and firepower in freezing temperatures and heavy snow.
Officials said the follow-on contract reflects growing confidence in South Korean defense systems and could support further exports to countries operating in challenging environments.
The deal was the result of about seven months of negotiations led by a “Team Korea” delegation, involving KOTRA, Hanwha Aerospace, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and diplomatic officials.
Under the government-to-government structure, KOTRA represents or partners with domestic firms in contracts requested by foreign governments, providing support across negotiations, legal review and intergovernmental coordination. The framework is designed to reduce contractual risk and secure more favorable terms for exporters.
KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung said the repeat order demonstrates strong trust built through reliable delivery and performance. “Being selected again after years of deployment in near-Arctic conditions highlights a high level of confidence,” he said.
Lee Yong-chul, head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said the deal shows the country’s strengths in performance, pricing and delivery reliability are gaining recognition in Europe. He added that the government would continue to support domestic firms expanding into global defense markets.
