South Korea continues its expansion in the defense market with the export of the K9 Thunder to Vietnam, a transaction that marks a strategic shift for Hanoi, as reported by South Korean media outlet Daum. Facing an increasingly tense regional environment, particularly in the South China Sea, Vietnam is seeking to modernize its artillery while reducing its dependence on Russia. Until now, most of its military equipment came from Moscow, but the war in Ukraine has disrupted Russian arms supplies, prompting Hanoi to diversify its sources. The contract signed between Hanwha Aerospace and the Vietnamese government, unveiled in January 2025, involves the acquisition of around 20 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers for an estimated $300 million. This sale is particularly significant as it represents the first export of South Korean weapons to a communist country, marking a milestone in the evolution of bilateral defense relations between Seoul and Hanoi.
Vietnam’s interest in the K9 Thunder was expressed during the 11th ROK-Vietnam Strategic Defense Dialogue in April 2024, against the backdrop of rising tensions with China. The modernization of Vietnam’s artillery is part of a broader effort to strengthen its deterrence capabilities, particularly along its disputed borders and in the South China Sea. Currently, Vietnam’s arsenal relies heavily on aging Soviet-era equipment, such as the 2S3 Akatsiya and 2S1 Gvozdika, which have fallen behind technologically compared to contemporary systems. The K9 provides Vietnam with a modern self-propelled howitzer, capable of a firing range of 40 km with conventional shells and up to 60 km with specialized munitions, along with a high rate of fire and an advanced fire control system that enables multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability. This ability to deliver rapid and mobile fire support is a key advantage in modern conflict scenarios, where artillery superiority can be a decisive factor.