Older defense industry news and coverage
The Philippines has signed a contract with Hanwha Ocean for two HDC-3100 corvettes to modernize the Philippine Navy's surface fleet. The 3,100-ton vessels will be the most capable warships in the Philippine fleet.
Romania has signed a contract for the K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system, becoming the second European customer after Poland. The deal includes launchers and CTM-290 guided missiles.
Hanwha Defence Australia has broken ground on its new armored vehicle manufacturing facility in Geelong, Victoria, which will produce the AS21 Redback IFV and AS9 Huntsman SPH for the Australian Defence Force.
The South Korean government has announced plans to become the world's fourth-largest defense exporter by 2027, backed by continued strong demand for Korean weapons systems across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
LIG Nex1's L-SAM long-range surface-to-air missile system successfully intercepted a target during a developmental test, marking a major milestone for South Korea's indigenous missile defense capability within the KAMD framework.
Malaysia has signed a contract for 18 FA-50M Block 20 light combat aircraft equipped with the Phantom Strike AESA radar, marking the most advanced FA-50 variant sold to date.
Hanwha Group completed its acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), rebranding the company as Hanwha Ocean. The move strengthens Hanwha's position in both commercial shipbuilding and naval defense.
Australia has selected the Hanwha AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle for its Land 400 Phase 3 program, beating the Rheinmetall Lynx KF41. The AUD 7.4 billion contract covers 129 vehicles to be manufactured in Geelong, Victoria.
Korea Aerospace Industries' KF-21 Boramae 4.5-generation fighter achieved its first supersonic flight, breaking Mach 1.0 during a test flight from Sacheon Air Base. The milestone brings Korea closer to indigenous advanced fighter production.
South Korea's defense exports reached a record $17.3 billion in 2022, driven primarily by the massive Polish procurement of K2 tanks, K9 howitzers, FA-50 fighters, and Chunmoo MLRS. The figure represents a dramatic increase from the previous year.
Poland has taken delivery of its first batch of K2 Black Panther main battle tanks from Hyundai Rotem, marking the beginning of a 1,000-unit order that will make Poland the largest K2 operator outside South Korea.