South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace Co. landed another artillery contract with Norway, securing a deal to supply 24 additional K9 VIDAR self-propelled howitzers worth approximately ₩740 billion ($534 million). The agreement brings Norway’s total fleet to 52 systems as the Nordic nation bolsters defenses near its Russian border.
The contract, signed Thursday in Oslo, represents Hanwha’s third deal with Norway since 2017. The South Korean defense contractor previously secured a ₩245 billion ($177 million) initial contract for 24 K9 howitzers and six ammunition vehicles, followed by a smaller 2022 order for four additional systems.
Norway plans to deploy the new artillery systems with its Finnmark Brigade, stationed in the country’s northern region adjacent to Russia. The weapons will feature upgraded communications and integration with Norwegian combat systems, with deliveries scheduled for completion by 2027.
The deal extends Hanwha’s growing presence in European defense markets, where the company has successfully marketed its K9 platform to nine countries including Poland, Finland and Estonia. The artillery system’s adoption across NATO members has created what Hanwha calls a “K9 User Club” for operational knowledge sharing.
Norway’s defense spending has surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the government proposing a 19.2 billion kroner increase to the 2025 defense budget. The artillery purchase forms part of a broader ₩23 trillion ($17 billion) military investment package awaiting parliamentary approval.
