South Korea-based Hanwha Aerospace Europe and Poland’s leading defense industry company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) have signed a $280 million contract for the supply of chassis components for the Krab self-propelled howitzer. The contract was announced at a signing ceremony in Stalowa Wola, Poland. The ceremony was attended by Hanwha Aerospace CEO Jaeil Son, HSW Chairman Wojciech Kędziera, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa CEO Arkadiusz Bąk and other officials.
The collaboration is the result of a ten-year partnership between the two companies, which began in 2014 when HSW was licensed to produce different variants of South Korea’s K9 Thunder chassis. Since then, HSW has been localizing chassis production, forming the backbone of the Krab howitzer.
A Strategic Deal for Poland
Following the agreement, Arkadiusz Bąk, CEO of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), said that the Krab howitzers are a symbol of the modernization of the Polish army. This agreement will allow for the timely completion of important divisional fire modules for the Polish Army and will also reinforce the strong cooperation that HSW and its South Korean partner have established over the past decade.
Krab Howitzer and Procurement Process
Poland began the procurement process for Krab howitzers in 2016. In December 2016, HSW signed a contract worth approximately €96 billion for the supply of 155 Krab 1 mm self-propelled howitzers for the Polish Army. These howitzers will be delivered by 2021 and will be incorporated into the Polish Armed Forces. An additional 2022 Krab howitzers have been ordered for 48.
With the additional agreement concluded at the end of 2023, Poland approved the supply of 152 more Krab howitzers. The value of this new contract is set at approximately PLN 10 billion and will be financed from the budget of the Polish Ministry of Defence. The delivery of the Krab howitzers is planned for 2025-2027.
