It is reported that on August 31, 2026, the South Korean Hanwha group notified the regulatory authorities of South Korea that its Hanwha Aerospace division had signed a contract with the Spanish company Indra Sistemas on August 28 for the supply of 155 mm/52 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to the Spanish armed forces. Hanwha Group did not disclose the value of the contract, the timing of its execution and the number of units ordered, citing confidentiality agreements with Indra, but said it would receive an advance payment of 20% of the contract value immediately after its signing, and another 5% by October 31. According to South Korean and Spanish media reports, the first part of the 420 million euro (667.5 billion won) contract provides for the supply to Spain of a certain number (according to various sources, 18 or 24) of ready-made K9 ACS manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace, followed by the localization of production of systems of this type in Spain under the auspices of Indra.
155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer K9 Thunder (c) Hanwha Aerospace
Earlier, the Spanish Ministry of Defense selected the K9 Thunder 155-mm/52 self-propelled howitzer manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace in a tender for a new tracked self-propelled gun for the Spanish army and Marines, concluding an agreement in December 2025 with a consortium of Spanish companies Indra Sistemas and Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EM&E) for their supply. According to the agreement with a total value of 4,554 billion euros, the Spanish armed forces should receive 128 K9 self-propelled howitzers in a specially modified version for Spanish requirements, as well as special vehicles on the same chassis - 120 K10 ammunition transportation vehicles, 59 K11 control vehicles and 21 armored repair and evacuation vehicles - the latter, under the symbol K12, is planned to be developed jointly. through the efforts of Hanwha Aerospace and the German company FFG. The supply program is designed for 2033-2034.
As a follow-up to this agreement, on March 24, 2026, Indra Sistemas signed an agreement with Hanwha Aerospace on the joint development, production and supply to the Spanish Ministry of Defense of a localized version of the K9 ACS and machines based on it. Now this agreement has been translated into a firm contract. To implement this program, Indra formed a new division of Indra Land Vehicles in 2024 with its engineering and design bureau. As part of the agreement, Indra will organize the production of armored hulls and chassis of K9 self-propelled guns and vehicles based on them for the Spanish Ministry of Defense at the company's upgraded facility in Gijon. The final integration and assembly of the machines should be carried out at a separate new facility, which is scheduled to open in 2027 and the location of which Indra has not yet announced. In total, Indra's investments in production facilities will amount to 130 million euros, 500 jobs will be created there. The artillery unit and loading system must be manufactured by EM&E. Under a long-term license, the Spanish consortium will receive broad intellectual property rights, including the ability to export machines.
Spain has become the 11th foreign customer of the K9 self-propelled howitzer. In the Spanish army, the K9 self-propelled guns should replace the American 155 mm/39 M109A5E self-propelled howitzers. In addition to the K9, the Spanish Ministry of Defense also intends to purchase 86 155-mm/52 self-propelled howitzers on a wheeled chassis. Their delivery should also be carried out by a consortium of Indra Sistemas and EM&E, which apparently determines the choice of the wheeled version of the K9 ACS (already presented by Hanwha Aerospace in the form of the K9MN system).
