The collaboration aims to enhance Spain’s technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy through significant technology transfer. It will also support innovation and create new commercial opportunities for both companies.
The project will be based on Hanwha’s K9 self-propelled howitzer platform, which is already in service with several NATO European countries and other allies. Spain will develop its own tracked land platforms using this foundation, with Indra holding design authority over the hull.
Ángel Escribano, Chairman of Indra Group, said: “The alliance between two major global defence leaders, Indra and Hanwha, enables us to offer the Spanish Armed Forces real sovereignty and autonomy throughout the life cycle of a new family of land platforms that did not exist until now, and which we are consolidating with the speed required in the current context.”
José Vicente de los Mozos, Chief Executive Officer of Indra Group, said: “Indra, in its role as a driving force of the Spanish economy, is committed to the objective of positioning Spanish industry at the highest level, delivering the most advanced systems required by today’s Armed Forces, while leading—together with our partners—the major European defence programs now being launched.”
Jaeil Son, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hanwha Aerospace, said: “We are proud to partner with Indra to support Spain’s sovereign defence capabilities. Building on the world’s most reliable K9 platform, this collaboration brings together our advanced artillery expertise with Indra’s industrial strengths to deliver a reliable, future-oriented solution for the Spanish Armed Forces.”
The agreement establishes a bilateral cooperation framework that also enables Hanwha to incorporate new technologies developed by Indra into its own vehicles. It is expected to strengthen both companies’ positions in the global defence market.
Indra plans to invest €130 million to expand its industrial capabilities, including upgrades to its facility in Gijón and the development of an additional integration plant. The project is expected to generate 500 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs as part of broader employment linked to Indra Land Vehicles programmes.
The system to be developed will include 128 tracked artillery vehicles, 120 ammunition resupply vehicles, 11 command and control vehicles and 21 recovery vehicles. These platforms form part of a Special Modernisation Programme jointly developed by Indra Group and EM&E Group.
Indra will manufacture the vehicle hulls in Spain and equip them with its mission systems, 360-degree vision systems, battlefield management systems and communications technologies. The company will also design and produce command post systems, including communications, NBC protection and automatic fire and explosion extinguishing systems.
Frank Torres, Managing Director of Indra Land Vehicles, said: “the agreement reached between Indra and Hanwha, two major defence companies, enables us to develop our own family of vehicles with significant commercial appeal,” adding that “this strengthens industrial capabilities, generates employment and knowledge, and ensures the technological sovereignty and autonomy of the Armed Forces.”
The platforms are designed to offer high levels of automation, long-range indirect fire capability and reduced crew requirements. Several NATO countries, including Norway, Poland, Finland, Romania and Estonia, have already adopted the K9 platform, highlighting its advanced capabilities.
