SEOUL (Joint Press Corps-Yonhap) -- Hanwha Defense, a South Korean defense firm, broke ground Friday for a new factory in Australia to supply self-propelled howitzers and armored vehicles to the country under last year's 1-trillion won (US$816 million) procurement deal.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the factory set to be built by 2024 took place in Geelong, southeastern Australia, with the attendance of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Hanwha Defense CEO Son Jae-il and other related officials.
In December, Hanwha signed the contract to supply 30 units of the K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, locally branded as the AS9 Huntsman, and 15 units of K-10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles to Australia by 2027.
(Yonhap)