Defence & Space

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Poland: Bergepanzer 2 ARVs Set for Overhaul

Poland’s Armed Forces 2nd Regional Logistics Base has launched a tender for the repair and potential F3/F4-level maintenance of Bergepanzer 2 armored…

2025-06-18 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

IFRE 2025: Communication Systems From INVISIO at the Megmar Booth

At the 5th International Fire Protection & Rescue Exhibition KIELCE IFRE-EXPO, Megmar presented the offerings of the Danish company INVISIO.…

2025-06-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Saab GlobalEye

At the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show, one of the most noteworthy elements of the static display was…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Poland: Buffer zone on the border with Belarus extended for another 90 days

The Minister of the Interior and Administration has signed a regulation introducing a temporary ban on presence in a designated area within the…

2025-06-11 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Galvion awarded FBI contract for their Hellbender FE helmet

Galvion announces the successful award of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contract for their Galvion Hellbender Federal Edition (FE) helmet…

2025-06-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to the Singaporean company ST Engineering

One of the stops during the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Singapore was the local company ST Engineering, which…

2025-06-14 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE signs agreement to deliver SAR satellite capabilities to the Portuguese Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) announced the signing of an order for…

2025-06-13 | Redakcja | 4 minutes
Shooting

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Mactronic M-Fire Guardian – A New Flashlight for Professionals

Mactronic is introducing a new angle flashlight, the M-Fire Guardian. According to the manufacturer, it is the first angle flashlight with red…

2025-06-04 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Hanwha Aerospace provides details of the offer of cooperation in the production of AHS K9PL

Hanwha Aerospace presented some details regarding the industrial cooperation offer for the production of self-propelled howitzers K9 for Poland.

Billy BooHwan Lee, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Europe, emphasizes that Hanwha Aerospace has extensive experience in cooperation with the Polish defense industry. In 2013, cooperation began on the development and implementation of the chassis for the Krab self-propelled howitzer, which is directly derived from the chassis of the K9 self-propelled howitzer. In many respects, these chassis are very similar.

Following another aggression by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022, the Polish side, seeking to enhance its defense capabilities, reached an agreement with the South Korean industry, and Hanwha Aerospace began cooperation in developing a version of the K9 self-propelled howitzer meeting the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces (K9PL). 

From A1 to A3

Representatives of Hanwha Aerospace emphasize their willingness to engage in industrial cooperation in the production of the K9 howitzer. These vehicles have found customers not only in Poland but also in other countries, including Finland, Estonia, and Norway in our region alone. Each time, the K9 has been adapted to meet local requirements. Due to the short timeframe of the initial order from Poland, the vehicles delivered to our country in the first batches are in the K9A1 standard developed for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea. However, they are fitted with the TOPAZ fire control and command system as well as the Fonet communication system provided by the Polish WB Group. Subsequently, vehicles developed according to Polish requirements in the K9PL version will be delivered to Poland.

The K9 self-propelled howitzer is being developed and modernized according to the requirements of the Korean army. During the opening of the office in Warsaw, representatives of Hanwha Aerospace Europe reminded that advanced work is underway on the K9A2 version, which will have an automated loading system. This will reduce the crew composition to three persons. At the same time, thanks to new types of ammunition, the range of engaging targets will increase from approximately 40 km for the K9A1 version to 54 km for the K9A2 version.

However, the development program of the K9 howitzer does not end there. Work is also underway on the next version, designated as the K9A3. It will be a significantly more automated vehicle. Its crew is intended to consist of two persons, with a fully crewless option that will be controlled remotely. The engagement range for targets planned for the K9A3 AHS is estimated by the Koreans to be from 70 to 100 km.

Second Executive Agreement

As part of the work on the K9PL version, the Korean side is incorporating a greater number of systems supplied by Polish manufacturers into the equipment of these vehicles. Self-propelled howitzers produced under the second executive agreement will be equipped with laser warning receivers produced by PCO and smoke grenade launchers produced by Dezamet. Additionally, the air conditioning system will be supplied by Webasto, and the ventilation filtration system will be provided by Radiotechnika Marketing.

As part of the technology transfer, Hanwha Aerospace intends, under the second executive agreement, to provide Poland with the technology for manufacturing modular charges with ignition systems and propellant charges. Under the same agreement, Koreans propose establishing a supply chain for joint European projects. Polish manufacturers would also engage in producing components for the K9 howitzers for other customers on our continent.

Third Executive Agreement

Under the third executive agreement, the Polish industry would be responsible for a larger scope of K9PL production, in addition to the Polish suppliers mentioned in previous agreements. Steel supply would be handled by Cognor, Walcownia Stali Batory, and Huta Stali Jakościowych from Stalowa Wola. The chassis construction would be carried out by ZRE Katowice. Suspension systems would be supplied by Borimex. According to the Korean proposal, Huta Stalowa Wola would be responsible for the production of the barrel, assembly, integration, and testing.

Furthermore, as Robert Szelenbaum, the program manager at Hanwha Aerospace Europe, informs, structural changes are planned for the chassis of the K9PL units produced under the third executive agreement, aiming to unify them with the chassis supplied for the Krab self-propelled howitzers. Therefore, the chassis will ultimately be the same as those used for Polish self-propelled howitzers.


Photos: Grzegorz Sobczak, MILMAG

The offer from Hanwha Aerospace concerning the third executive agreement also includes a proposal for the involvement of the Polish industry in the development of the new K9A2 version and the next-generation self-propelled howitzer. Additionally, matters regarding ammunition production are being addressed.

Through Technology Transfer, Hanwha Aerospace intends to support Poland in securing the production capability of modular 155mm charges. Technological cooperation in the production of 155mm ammunition, along with service, production, and development capabilities for the KRAB and K9 platforms, will provide a comprehensive solution for the artillery sector. Technology Transfer will also establish manufacturing competencies based on Polish defense sector companies. As a result, the production of 155mm ammunition from Polish materials will be possible, significantly strengthening production capacity and ensuring independence and self-sufficiency in meeting Poland’s defense needs, say representatives of Hanwha Aerospace Europe.

In addition to production cooperation, Hanwha Aerospace will ensure technology transfer enabling full technical support to be conducted by Polish entities. Currently, technical support is provided by Korean personnel working in our country. Robert Szelenbaum announces that this year, the training of the first group of Polish specialists will be completed, and they will gradually take over technical support from the Korean side.

In addition, there will be a logistics center to ensure smooth delivery of spare parts. Its location has not yet been disclosed. It is only known that it will be located near Warsaw, and its task will be to support the operation of K9 howitzers not only in Poland but also in the entire region.

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