South Korea is on the brink of exporting its K9 self-propelled howitzers to Vietnam, marking a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two countries.
According to industry insiders, negotiations between the Korean government and Vietnam have advanced to the final stages, with both sides agreeing in principle to the export of 20 K9 units valued at $300 million. The deal is expected to be finalized as a government-to-government (G2G) transaction, possibly as early as this quarter.
“Both parties have largely aligned on the terms of the agreement,” a source revealed, indicating that Vietnam’s defense requirements are well-matched with Korea’s offer.
The deployment of the K9 howitzers is anticipated near Vietnam’s northern border with China, approximately 100 kilometers from Hanoi. This region holds strategic importance due to historical and ongoing tensions between Vietnam and China, including a border conflict in 1979 and disputes in the South China Sea.
If completed, this transaction would mark the first export of South Korean defense equipment to a communist country, signifying an expansion of Korea’s influence in the region amidst the intensifying strategic rivalry between the United States and China.
Vietnam’s move to diversify its defense partnerships away from its traditional supplier, Russia, is particularly noteworthy. International sanctions on Russia following its conflict in Ukraine have curtailed its ability to export weapons, prompting Vietnam to explore alternative suppliers. Korea’s K9 howitzer caught Vietnam’s attention after India, facing similar border tensions with China, successfully deployed the system in its mountainous Kashmir region—terrain akin to Vietnam’s border areas.
Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang further solidified interest during a visit to South Korea in February 2023, where he inspected a K9 unit and received a detailed briefing from Hanwha Aerospace Co., the system’s manufacturer.
Should the agreement be finalized, Vietnam would become the 11th country to adopt the K9 howitzer, underscoring the platform’s growing reputation as a versatile and reliable defense asset.
Related
Source: Vietnam Insider