Assistant Secretary Ingraham of the U.S. Army Visits Changwon
Production Capabilities Reviewed Following K9 Prototype Supply Agreement
Chunmoo, M-SAM, L-SAM, and KVLS Production Sites Also Inspected
Hanwha Aerospace announced on September 2 that Brent Ingraham, U.S. Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and his delegation visited its Changwon facility on August 26 to review the company’s overall production capabilities for ground defense equipment, including the wheeled K9 self-propelled howitzer.
Brent Ingraham, U.S. Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, visited Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant on the 26th of last month and held a conversation with Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA. Hanwha Aerospace
As the top acquisition official in the U.S. Army, Assistant Secretary Ingraham oversees more than 550 acquisition programs with a portfolio valued at approximately $170 billion. He has previously served as acting Deputy Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment at the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Platform and Weapons Portfolio Management, handling major weapons system acquisitions for aviation, naval, cyber, and electronic warfare systems.
The delegation toured the wheeled K9 production site, inspecting automated processes such as robotic welding that support mass production and quality control. They observed mobility demonstrations for both wheeled and tracked K9 self-propelled howitzers, and reviewed Hanwha’s major defense products and production lines, including the Chunmoo multiple launch guided rocket system, the mid-to-long range surface-to-air guided missile systems (M-SAM and L-SAM), the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, and the Korean Vertical Launching System (KVLS).
According to the company, the visiting group responded positively to the level of automation in the production line and the live equipment demonstrations, expressing interest in Hanwha’s manufacturing capabilities and management systems.
This visit took place shortly after Hanwha Defense USA — Hanwha Aerospace’s U.S. subsidiary — signed an agreement to supply prototypes for the U.S. Army’s wheeled self-propelled howitzer (MTC) program. During the meeting, the two sides shared various opinions on strengthening defense cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to support the U.S. Army’s force modernization efforts.
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Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, stated, “For over 70 years, the South Korea-U.S. alliance has served as a cornerstone for peace and security, and defense cooperation has become a key pillar supporting that alliance. With Hanwha’s proven manufacturing capabilities and global production experience, we will strengthen the deterrence of the alliance and contribute to the U.S. defense industrial base.”
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