Hanwha Aerospace Participates in NATO Forum, Accelerates Defense Industry Cooperation in Europe

Discussing Ways to Strengthen Local Production Capabilities
Proposal of "Korea-NATO Defense Industry Partnership 2.0"

Hanwha Aerospace is accelerating the expansion of its security cooperation and defense industry partnerships in Europe, using the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit as a catalyst.

Hanwha Aerospace announced on July 8 that its delegation participated in the NATO Defense Industry Forum held in Ankara, Türkiye on July 7 (local time).

Jacek Chirek, Head of Hanwha Aerospace Europe, is delivering the keynote speech at a networking reception hosted by Hanwha Aerospace. Hanwha Aerospace

The NATO Defense Industry Forum is a defense industry side event held during the NATO summit. Government officials from member countries, representatives from global defense companies, and policy institutions gather in one place to discuss security issues and industrial cooperation.

At this forum, NATO member states, the global defense industry, and major security think tanks discussed measures to strengthen Europe's defense production base, enhance supply chain resilience, and expand industrial cooperation in response to the rapidly changing security environment.

Jacek Cirek, Head of Hanwha Aerospace Europe, emphasized the need to expand defense cooperation between NATO member states and Indo-Pacific partners (IP4), as well as the importance of long-term industrial cooperation based on trust.

He stated, "New technologies, new threats, and a shifting geopolitical environment are changing the way we view defense, deterrence, and resilience. Strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities now goes beyond simply acquiring equipment. The importance of building stable supply chains, enhancing local production capabilities, and establishing joint development and joint production systems is growing ever greater."

He continued, "Technology delivers its greatest value when it is built on trust, shared goals, and strong partnerships. Hanwha Aerospace is committed to enhancing national defense capabilities, expanding industrial cooperation, and contributing to the development of a stronger and more resilient NATO defense industry ecosystem."

As representative examples of this industrial cooperation strategy, Jacek Cirek introduced cases of local production, technology cooperation, and expanded industrial partnerships currently being promoted in European countries including Poland and Romania.

In Poland, Hanwha Aerospace has successfully established technology cooperation and joint production systems through the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and Chunmoo Multiple Launch Rocket System projects. The company is also pursuing the establishment of a local joint venture for missile co-production and building an MCS (modular charge system) production base. In Romania, the company is constructing production facilities for ground defense systems such as the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer, and in Northern Europe, it is expanding technology cooperation and investment around the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and Chunmoo. Additionally, Hanwha Aerospace is pursuing joint development and technology cooperation in Western Europe, including Germany and France, thereby broadening the foundation for defense industry cooperation across the continent.

A government-level blueprint to further advance defense industry cooperation between Korea and NATO was also presented. In a keynote speech at the Defense Industry Forum, President Lee Jaemyung proposed the 'Korea-NATO Defense Industry Partnership 2.0,' suggesting that existing cooperation focused on weapons systems be expanded to include joint research and development, co-production, joint operation, and long-term industrial partnerships. He further emphasized that if Korea's stable production capacity and proven technological capability are combined with NATO’s longstanding expertise, both sides' security capabilities can be significantly enhanced.

On the same day, Hanwha Aerospace also hosted a networking reception for key government and defense industry representatives. The event was attended by around 150 participants, including key NATO officials such as members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) and NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT), a U.S. Congressional delegation, representatives from global defense companies, major think tanks, and members of the press.

Participants discussed various cooperation measures to strengthen the defense production base, enhance supply chain resilience, and expand co-production in response to changes in the European security environment. At the same time, they established a foundation for long-term cooperation through exchanges among government, industry, and think tanks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.