Vietnam signs historic $250 million contract with South Korea for 20 K9 self-propelled howitzers.

According to information published by Yonhap, a South Korean News Agency, on August 14, 2025, South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace has signed a government-to-government agreement worth US$250 million to supply Vietnam with 20 K9 self-propelled howitzers. The contract, concluded in July, marks the first-ever export of advanced South Korean weapon systems to Hanoi, and in Southeast Asia in general, signaling a major milestone in bilateral defense relations and a notable expansion of Seoul’s arms export footprint into the region.
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The K9 Thunder is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer with a 50 km range, rapid shoot-and-scoot capability, and high mobility, providing modern armies with superior long-range firepower and survivability (Picture source: South Korean Defense Media Agency).

The K9 Thunder has become the backbone of South Korea’s artillery force and a global benchmark in self-propelled howitzer design. The system is built around a 155mm/52-caliber gun with an effective firing range of 40 kilometers using standard ammunition and up to 54 kilometers with rocket-assisted projectiles. Its firepower is complemented by an automatic loading system that enables a burst firing mode of three rounds in under 15 seconds and a maximum rate of eight rounds per minute. The vehicle measures over 12 meters in length with a crew of five and features reinforced steel armor capable of withstanding 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds and artillery shell fragments. Its MTU MT 881 Ka-500 diesel engine delivers 1,000 horsepower, ensuring a top speed of 67 km/h and excellent off-road performance across Vietnam’s diverse terrain, from coastal lowlands to mountainous border regions.

The K9’s tactical and operational value lies in its ability to conduct high-intensity fire missions while minimizing exposure to counter-battery strikes. The system’s advanced fire control suite, integrated with inertial navigation and GPS targeting, allows precise and rapid targeting adjustments. Its “shoot-and-scoot” capability enables it to fire multiple salvos and relocate within less than a minute, significantly increasing survivability in modern combat environments. When paired with the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, which can deliver 104 rounds of 155mm shells under armor protection, the K9 provides sustained fire support over long campaigns, a capability that Vietnam previously lacked with older towed and tracked Soviet-era systems.

For Vietnam’s People’s Army, the acquisition represents a leap in artillery modernization. Hanoi’s current arsenal relies heavily on legacy systems such as the Soviet-designed D-30 122mm howitzer and the 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled gun, which are limited in range and firepower compared to modern platforms. The K9 A1 will offer Vietnam both superior range and mobility, allowing it to hold strategic areas at risk while reducing reliance on static artillery positions. This transition to modern tracked artillery reflects Hanoi’s intent to field a more flexible and survivable force, capable of rapid response in both defensive and deterrence-oriented operations.

Vietnam continues to face mounting pressure in the South China Sea, where Chinese military outposts and increasing naval deployments challenge Hanoi’s maritime sovereignty. While the K9 howitzer is a land-based system, its acquisition is part of a wider modernization program that includes investments in air defense, coastal defense missiles, and naval assets aimed at bolstering deterrence. By diversifying away from a heavy dependence on Russian suppliers, particularly at a time when Moscow’s defense industry is constrained by the war in Ukraine, Vietnam is aligning itself with new partners like South Korea, India, and the United States to ensure access to reliable and advanced military technology.

For South Korea, the contract with Vietnam underscores its emergence as one of the world’s leading arms exporters. The K9 has become a flagship product of Hanwha Aerospace, accounting for several billion dollars in sales globally. Seoul’s aggressive export drive has seen the system deployed across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, competing directly with Western howitzers such as the German PzH 2000 and the American M109A7 Paladin. What makes the K9 attractive is its balance between cost, capability, and production capacity, allowing rapid delivery and strong after-sales support. The Vietnamese order therefore not only deepens bilateral defense ties but also reinforces Seoul’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a credible alternative supplier for countries seeking to modernize their ground forces without the cost or political constraints of Western systems.

This deal also carries symbolic weight in the trajectory of South Korea-Vietnam relations. Until recently, Hanoi’s defense interactions with Seoul were confined to the transfer of decommissioned naval assets, such as patrol vessels. By moving into the sale of frontline combat systems, the partnership has entered a new phase of defense-industrial cooperation. This shift was reinforced during Vietnamese President To Lam’s state visit to South Korea, during which he and President Lee Jae Myung discussed deeper collaboration in security, technology, and trade. The K9 agreement is therefore not an isolated purchase but a marker of expanding strategic trust between the two countries.

The introduction of the K9 will significantly transform Vietnam’s artillery posture and contribute to the broader rebalancing of military capabilities in Southeast Asia. With tensions simmering in the South China Sea and neighboring states such as the Philippines and Indonesia also pursuing modernization, Hanoi’s acquisition of long-range precision artillery sends a strong message of determination to defend its national interests. For Seoul, it consolidates its growing reputation as a global leader in artillery systems, reinforcing the K9’s position as one of the most widely adopted self-propelled howitzers of the 21st century.