Jacek Cierek, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s European unit, delivers keynote remarks at a networking reception in Ankara, Turkey, on the 7th (local time)./Hanwha Aerospace
Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS) is accelerating efforts to expand European security cooperation and defense partnerships.
A Hanwha Aerospace delegation participated in the “NATO Defence Industry Forum” held in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, the company said Tuesday.
The NATO Defence Industry Forum is a side event to the NATO summit in the defense sector. Government officials and policy institution representatives from member states gather to discuss security issues and industrial cooperation.
At this forum, participants including NATO member states, global defense companies, and major security think tanks discussed strengthening Europe’s defense production base, enhancing supply chain competitiveness, and industrial cooperation measures to respond to the rapidly changing security environment.
Jacek Cirek, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s European operations, emphasized the need to expand defense cooperation between NATO member states and Indo-Pacific partner nations (IP4), as well as the importance of long-term industrial cooperation based on trust, during a panel session at the forum.
“New technologies, new threats, and a changing geopolitical environment are transforming the way we look at defense, deterrence, and resilience,” Cirek said. “To strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities, the importance of building stable supply chains, enhancing local production capacity, and establishing joint development and joint production systems is growing ever greater, beyond simply acquiring equipment.”
“Technology delivers its greatest value on the foundation of trust, shared goals, and strong partnerships,” he added. “Hanwha Aerospace is committed to strengthening each nation’s self-reliant defense capabilities, expanding industrial cooperation, and contributing to building a stronger and more resilient NATO defense ecosystem.”
Cirek also introduced examples of local production, technology cooperation, and industrial partnership expansion that Hanwha Aerospace is pursuing across European countries.
In Poland, Hanwha Aerospace has established technology cooperation and joint production systems through the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Chunmoo projects. It is also pursuing the establishment of a local joint venture (JV) for joint missile production and the construction of a modular charge system (MCS) production base. The company is building a ground defense systems production facility in Romania and expanding technology cooperation and investment in Northern Europe. In Western Europe, including Germany and France, it is pursuing joint development and technology cooperation, expanding its defense cooperation base across the continent.
A government-level blueprint for advancing defense cooperation between Korea and NATO was also presented. President Lee Jae-myung, who delivered the keynote address, proposed a “Korea-NATO Defense Cooperation Partnership 2.0,” emphasizing the need to expand existing weapons-system-centered cooperation into joint research and development (R&D), production and operation, and long-term industrial cooperation. He also explained that combining Korea’s stable production capacity and proven technological capabilities with NATO’s longstanding know-how could further strengthen the security capabilities of both sides.
On the same day, Hanwha Aerospace also held a networking reception inviting key government and defense industry officials. The event was attended by about 150 people, including key figures from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT), as well as a U.S. congressional delegation, global defense companies, major think tanks, and media representatives. Attendees discussed cooperation measures to respond to changes in the European security environment while laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation through exchanges between think tanks.