K9 self-propelled howitzer. Provided by Hanwha DefenseThe Egyptian Defense Exhibition (EDEX 2021) will be held in Cairo from the 29th (current time) to the 2nd of December. EDEX, which started in 2018, is the second largest defense exhibition in Africa and is attended by 350 companies from 40 countries around the world.
As Korean companies such as Hanwha Defense (K9 self-propelled artillery, armored vehicle), Hyundai Rotem (tank, wheeled armored vehicle), Poongsan (ammunition), and Hancom Lifecare (gas mask) also participated in this exhibition, K-defense spread to the Middle East and Africa region. It remains to be seen whether
In particular, export negotiations are currently underway for Hanwha Defense’s K9 self-propelled howitzer. They are discussing the export of a ‘K9 package’ such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K10 ammunition-carrying armored vehicle to the Egyptian military. Hanwha Defense is promoting the export of local production methods through the delivery of finished products and technology transfer.
K10 ammunition-carrying armored vehicle. Provided by Hanwha Defense
If the export is successful, the K9 self-propelled howitzer, which exported 600 units to Turkey, Norway, Finland, Estonia, etc., will be the first case of entering the Middle East and Africa region.
Since 2005, K9 has been pursuing a plan to export to Egypt, and attention is being paid to whether it will become the ‘second heavenly palace’ in the Middle East and Africa market, like ‘Cheongung 2’, which recently announced an export of 4 trillion won to the UAE.
Ahn Byung-cheol, head of Hanwha Defense’s overseas business division, said, “Through this Egyptian defense exhibition, we are going to promote the K-9 self-propelled howitzer, a representative K-defense player, a remote fire control system applied with advanced technology, and the future-type next-generation armored vehicle Redback.” The purpose is to export to major countries in the world because it can be operated in a variety of environments to be operated in seven countries, including Korea.”
In the case of Hyundai Rotem, K2 tanks will be promoted at this exhibition. In Egypt, subway line 3 was opened, and it is known that Hyundai Rotem is receiving good reviews in the region to the extent that it exports subway lines 1 and 3. However, because tanks are more expensive than self-propelled artillery, discussions on export have not yet begun in earnest.
Vice Chairman Na Sang-woong of the Korea Defense Industry Promotion Association said, “The reason why there is a lot of interest in Korea’s defense industry is because of its excellent price-performance ratio and very easy follow-up munitions. Because there are so many, we have to put a lot of effort into technology.”
