S. Korea to supply Egypt with K9 howitzers in $1.65 bn deal
Egypt and South Korea sign a deal and another separate memorandum of understanding.
Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said today, Tuesday, that the South Korean arms producer Hanwha Defense has signed a $1.65 billion deal with the defense ministry of Egypt to sell self-propelled K9 howitzers.
"Hanwha Defense, the South Korean manufacturer, and Egypt's defense ministry inked the largest K9 export deal in the Artillery House, a military facility in Cairo, capping more than 10 years of on-again, off-again talks. The deal includes the production of K9s in Egypt and a technology transfer," DAPA said as quoted by the South Korean Yonhap news agency.
According to the statements, this agreement makes Egypt the eighth country that acquires the K9 howitzers and the very first in the African market.
Yonhap also reported that Egypt's defense ministry and DAPA signed as well a separate memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation in defense research and development, adding that DAPA did not give further details on how and when K9 howitzers will be supplied to Egypt.
As per Yonhap, this agreement came after last month's summit between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Cairo.