Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) signed a government-to-government deal worth approximately 940 billion won to export K-9 self-propelled howitzers to Finland.
KOTRA struck a government-to-government deal on K9 self-propelled howitzers with Finland’s Ministry of Defense in Helsinki, Finland, on April 9.
The export contract was signed as part of efforts by the two countries to maintain cooperation in the defense industry sector.
KOTRA participated in the contract as a contracting party on behalf of the Korean government, while from the Finland side, Olli Ruutu, Finland’s director general of resource policy and national armaments director, was present.
Among those on hand at a contract signing ceremony were KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung, the head of the Korea Defense Industry Trade Support Center (KODITS), President Sohn Jae-il of Hanwha Aerospace and Korean Amb. Kim Jung-ha to Finland.
From Finland side, defense ministry officials, military and army officers were also present.
Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will supply 112 K9 self-propelled howitzers worth about 940 billion won to Finland’s Ministry of Defense.
KOTRA, Hanwha Aerospace, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Korean Embassy in Finland kicked off a meeting as a “Team Korea Negotiation Delegation” last September.
The delegation’s seven months of negotiations with the Finish side had paid off.
It was in 2017 that Finland ordered 96 K9 howitzers from South Korea.
The latest deal marks the second such contract, demonstrating the excellent performance of the Korean-made weapon, especially in the extreme weather conditions of Northern Europe.
KOTRA President Kang said, “I’m pleased that it could raise the reliability of exporting the system to other regions since Finland, near the North Pole, has opted to a repurchase deal, and we will devote ourself to expand K-defense exports by ramping ‘Team Korea’ cooperation with companies, embassies and specialized institutions so that Koreas can become a global top four defense export powerhouse.”
Chilean defense ministry officers and major military officers listen to an explanation from an official with “Korea Pavilion,” set up by KOTRA, at FIDAE 2026, which took place in Chile Santiago Airport from April 7 to 12.
KOTRA Accelerates Efforts to Usher in Era of Defense Industry Exports Worth $20 Billion in Central and South America
The Korean defense industry has redoubled efforts to expand its presence in the Central and South American markets with the goal of achieving $20 billion in annual defense industry exports.
The Korea Defense Industry Trade Support Center (KODITS) of KOTRA set up “Korea Pavilion” at FIDAE 2026, the largest aviation and defense industry fair in the Central and South America, which took place in Chile Santiago Airport from April 7 to 12.
According to DAPA, Korea saw its defense industry exports surge 60 percent year-on-year to $15.4 billion last year, and the nation is predicted to achieve a milestone of topping $20 billion in defense industry exports this year.
The nation posted $17.3 billion in the best-ever defense industry exports in 2022.
It is noteworthy that the number of Korean-made weapon import countries jumped to 16, a two-fold surge form seven in 2022 with importers centering around Central and South American countries, such as Peru and Colombia.
FIDAE 2026, the largest aviation and defense industry fair in Central and South America, was attended by as many as 31 Korean defense middle market enterprises and SMEs.
A combed 377 countries, including Korea, participated in the fair, which attracted approximately 120,000 defense industry officials.
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