The agreement was signed at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris. It was signed by IL Sung, head of Middle East and North Africa at Hanwha Aerospace, and Dr. Khalifa Murad Alblooshi, Managing Director of Generation 5 Holding.
Under the agreement, Generation 5 Holding will support local production and market access for the K9. Hanwha Aerospace said the cooperation forms part of its strategy to strengthen its position in the Middle East.
The company is pursuing local production, maintenance and technology partnerships as a route to regional customers. Hanwha said in-country manufacture and lifecycle support are intended to build local industrial capability and provide support closer to where the systems operate.
The K9 is a 155 mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer. Hanwha said it has a firing range of more than 40 kilometres and is operated by ten countries across four continents.
“The agreement with Hanwha Aerospace reflects our commitment to developing advanced industrial capabilities through strong partnerships and technology transfer, enhancing the competitiveness of our products and supporting the growth of the national defense industry ecosystem,” said Dr. Khalifa Murad Alblooshi, Managing Director of Generation 5 Holding. “By combining our strengths in manufacturing and our integrated industrial capabilities, we are well positioned to develop, manufacture, and deliver high-performance Howitzer systems to our customers, in line with our strategy to transfer and localize advanced defense manufacturing technologies.”
“We look forward to building a successful partnership with Hanwha Aerospace, one that advances our shared interests and meets users’ requirements, both now and in the future, according to the highest international standards,” Alblooshi said.
“The Middle East is a priority market for Hanwha Aerospace, and building strong partnerships with local industry is central to how we are growing our presence in the region,” said IL Sung, head of Middle East and North Africa at Hanwha Aerospace. “By manufacturing and supporting the K9 locally, we aim to strengthen our partners’ defence sovereignty and to offer regional customers a capable artillery system with support close to where it operates.”
Hanwha Aerospace said the agreement is intended to support local industrial capability in the region. The company also said partnerships with regional industry are part of its wider approach to contributing to defence sovereignty in the Middle East.
