The U.S. Army’s top weapons acquisition official has commended Hanwha Aerospace for its defense production capabilities. Hanwha, having recently secured a contract to supply prototypes for the U.S. Army’s wheeled self-propelled howitzer, plans to leverage its proven manufacturing expertise to accelerate its penetration of the U.S. defense market and expand U.S.-South Korea defense cooperation.
Hanwha Aerospace reported on Wednesday that Brent Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and his delegation visited the Changwon facility on August 26. The visit aimed to assess the production capabilities of various ground defense systems, including the wheeled K9 self-propelled howitzer.
As the U.S. Army’s chief acquisition officer, Ingraham oversees more than 550 acquisition programs with a portfolio valued at approximately 170 billion USD. His previous roles in the Department of Defense include Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Acquisition Operations and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Platform and Weapons Portfolio Management, where he handled key weapons system acquisitions across aviation, maritime, cyber, and electronic warfare domains.
During their visit, Ingraham and his team toured the wheeled K9 production line, examining automated processes that support mass production and quality control, such as robotic welding. They also witnessed mobility demonstrations of both wheeled and tracked K9 howitzers, along with other Hanwha defense products including the Chunmoo multiple launch guided rocket system, M-SAM, L-SAM, Redback infantry fighting vehicle, and the Korean Vertical Launching System (KVLS).
The delegation expressed positive reactions to the production line’s automation level and the live equipment demonstrations, showing significant interest in Hanwha’s production capabilities and management systems.
This visit came shortly after Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), Hanwha Aerospace’s U.S. subsidiary, inked a deal to provide prototypes for the U.S. Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. Under the contract, HDUSA will supply up to 18 wheeled K9 howitzers as prototypes over the next four years. The agreement includes an initial delivery of six units with an option for an additional twelve, potentially reaching a total contract value of up to 262 million USD.
Michael Coulter, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hanwha Defense USA, emphasized that for over seven decades, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has been the bedrock of peace and security in the region. Defense cooperation serves as a crucial pillar supporting this alliance. Hanwha is committed to enhancing the deterrence capabilities of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and contributing to the U.S. defense industrial base through the proven manufacturing capabilities and global production experience.