Press Release Aerospace & Defense

Hanwha Aerospace hosts U.S. Army's senior acquisition leadership at defense production sites

September 2, 2026

• Delegation led by the Honorable Brent G. Ingraham, ASA(ALT), toured multiple production facilities.
• Visit comes as Hanwha Invests in U.S. defense industrial capacity
• Hanwha to accelerate its phased localization strategy to expand U.S.-based production

The Honorable Brent G. Ingraham, ASA(ALT), meets with Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA

The Honorable Brent G. Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, conversing with Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, during his visit to Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant on the August 26.

The Honorable Brent G. Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), and his delegation visited Hanwha Aerospace's defense production sites in Changwon, South Korea on August 26 to review the company's manufacturing capabilities across artillery, rocket systems, and other land defense platforms.

 

The delegation toured the K9 production line, where K9MH systems are currently in production, and observed automated manufacturing processes such as robotic welding that support Hanwha's high-volume, high-quality output. 

 

The delegation also observed live mobility demonstrations of the K9MH and K9A1 as well as a demonstration of the Chunmoo multiple rocket launch system, and viewed the company's broader land systems portfolio. The visit concluded with discussions about Hanwha’s capabilities and the U.S. Army's modernization priorities.

 

"Hanwha brings proven manufacturing capabilities and global production experience that will strengthen deterrence and support the U.S. industrial base," said Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA. "For more than seven decades, the U.S.-Korea alliance has been a cornerstone of peace and security, and defense industrial cooperation is an increasingly important pillar of that alliance."

 

The Changwon complex is the production home of the K9 family. Its serial-production capacity, built through concurrent programs for Korea, Poland, Australia, Egypt, and other allies, demonstrates the manufacturing expertise Hanwha will bring to its U.S. operations.

 

Hanwha is accelerating its phased localization strategy to expand U.S.-based production and support for the K9MH. HDUSA's integration and test facility in Opelika, Alabama serves as the company's U.S. artillery manufacturing network, with future phases under evaluation as production scales to meet the U.S. Army's requirements.

 

 

About Hanwha Aerospace

 

Hanwha Aerospace is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services. These include land combat vehicles such as the world-renowned K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle, various other weapons systems, munitions, aircraft engine parts, and technology products and services. 

As South Korea's largest aerospace and defense company, Hanwha Aerospace is engaged in the research, development, and manufacture of advanced technology systems and is spearheading the country's space projects. 

 

For more information, visit: http://www.hanwhaaerospace.com