Hanwha signs $118 mil. deal with Army

K55 A1 self-propelled howitzers

By Kim Yoo-chul

Hanwha Defense, a leading land systems manufacturer in South Korea, has signed a deal to provide the Army with a fifth batch of K55 A1 self-propelled howitzers, the company said on Dec. 30.

Valued at 137.4 billion won ($118 million), the contract was signed between Hanwha Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Delivery of the artillery is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 30, 2022.

The K55A1 is an up-to-date version of the K55 self-propelled howitzer, a South Korean variant of the American M109 Paladin. The vehicle carries up to six personnel, and the primary armament is a 155mm main gun.

The South Korean Army has fielded more than 1,000 of the artillery systems to counter North Korea's possible attacks near the heavily fortified border.