During his state visit to South Korea, Polish President Andrzej Duda visited the Changwon 3 Industrial Complex in Gyeongnam Province. This marked the first-ever visit by a foreign leader to this “Korean cradle of innovation and defense,” as the Hanwha Aerospace facility is often described.
In his welcome speech, Dong Kwan Kim, Vice President of Hanwha Group, emphasized that the visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of industrial cooperation between Poland and South Korea, which has resulted in the production of Krab self-propelled howitzers under a Korean license at Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. “Through technology transfer and localized production, we not only strengthen Poland’s defense capabilities but also become a trusted NATO partner,” he noted.
President Duda, accompanied by Hanwha Group’s Vice President, toured the production lines of K9 self-propelled howitzers, which are being progressively delivered to the Polish Armed Forces, significantly enhancing Poland’s and NATO’s defense capabilities.
Before touring the production lines, President Duda attended a live demonstration of Hanwha Aerospace’s advanced defense systems, including a multi-purpose unmanned vehicle, TAipers medium-range rocket launchers, K9 self-propelled howitzers, Chunmoo multi-launch rocket systems, and the Tigon wheeled armored personnel carrier.
Vice President Kim, along with senior representatives of Hanwha Ocean – Sung Kyun Jeong, Vice President and Head of the International Warship Department, and Charlie SC Eoh, President and COO – presented President Duda with the capabilities of the KSS-III submarine, proposed to Poland under the “Orka” program.
Dong Kwan Kim also showcased the AS21 Redback Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle, small SAR satellites developed by Hanwha Systems, and aviation engines manufactured in Changwon.
During a press conference with Polish journalists, President Duda expressed his admiration for the Hanwha Aerospace facility, particularly the advanced defense systems and state-of-the-art automated production lines. He expressed hope that Hanwha Aerospace will continue to play a significant role in fostering industrial cooperation between Poland and South Korea.
