Hanwha showcases defense capabilities to Canadian think tank

Canadian Global Affairs Institute President David Perry visits Hanwha Aerospace's K-9 manufacturing plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, last week. (Hanwha Aerospace)

Energy-to-defense giant Hanwha Group said Wednesday its shipbuilding and machinery manufacturing affiliates presented their state-of-the-art defense technologies to the head of Canada‘s leading global affairs research group, in the companies' efforts to expand their footing in the North American market.

According to Hanwha, Dr. David Perry, the president of Canadian Global Affairs Institute, took an extensive tour of Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Aerospace's facilities during his visit to Korea last week.

Perry toured around Hanwha Ocean's R&D campus and shipyard and Hanwha Aerospace’s manufacturing plants where he observed firsthand the advanced maritime and artillery capabilities of the companies, including Hanwha Ocean's KSS-III submarine and Hanwha Aerospace’s K-9 howitzer and K239 Chunmoo rocket launcher.

The CGAI president's visit comes at a time when Hanwha is laying the groundwork for a strategic expansion into the Canadian defense market, while Canada is seeking to improve its roles and responsibilities in the European conflict areas as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“These naval and land platforms would contribute to the modernization of the Canadian Army and Navy, with timely cost-effective solutions that meet Canada's operational needs,” Hanwha noted in a statement.

In 2022, Korea and Canada announced a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the summit held to celebrate their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, with the goal of fostering security cooperation as part of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy.

Since then, both nations have increased their defense cooperation, as seen by joint naval drills in the Korean peninsula's West Sea and the Korean Navy's port calls in Halifax, Canada.

By Choi Ji-won(jwc@heraldcorp.com)