Hanwha Aerospace is reportedly in negotiations with the Egyptian government for the export of the multiple launch rocket "Cheonmu." Hanwha Aerospace and Egypt are also said to be discussing local production and technology transfer.

According to defense media Defense Arabic on the 21st, Egyptian authorities are discussing the export contract for Cheonmu with Hanwha Aerospace. The media assessed that this contract, which includes technology transfer, will enhance Egypt's defense capabilities and resilience in wartime.

The real shooting training appearance of the Cheonmu multiple launch rocket. / Courtesy of defense promotion agency YouTube capture

The background of Egypt's interest in Hanwha Aerospace's Cheonmu is the Russia-Ukraine war. Europe has strengthened its military, making it difficult to secure weapons. Egypt faces various security threats in border regions adjacent to the eastern Sinai Peninsula, Sudan, and Libya.

According to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), from 2017 to 2021, Russia held a 41% share of Egypt's arms import market. France, Italy, Germany, and the United States followed, but it is reported that recent diversification policies have led to an increase in arms imports from the United States, Germany, and France.

The Cheonmu introduced by the Korean Army from Hanwha Aerospace. / Courtesy of Hanwha Aerospace

Cheonmu is designed with an open structure compatible with various types of ammunition and can be operated in conjunction with local munitions or other rocket systems in Egypt. Cheonmu operates 130 mm, 239 mm, 230 mm, 400 mm, and 600 mm rockets, with a range varying from 36 km to a maximum of 290 km. Saudi Arabia, which is adjacent to Egypt, is also reported to possess Cheonmu.

This is not Hanwha Aerospace's first cooperation with Egypt. In 2022, Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract to supply K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition supply vehicles for $1.7 billion (approximately 2 trillion won). This marked the first export of South Korean self-propelled howitzers to an African country.

The Cheonmu multiple launch rocket in the photo released by the Ministry of National Defense of Saudi Arabia in 2023. / Courtesy of Saudi Ministry of National Defense Twitter account capture

The K9 completed domestic engine durability tests in Egypt from the second half of 2023 to December of the previous year. It met performance and maximum output requirements while traveling 10,000 km in various environments, including deserts and mountains. There are analyses suggesting that contract negotiations could accelerate as Hanwha Aerospace participates in the 4th Egypt International Defense Exhibition (EDEX) scheduled for December.

A Hanwha Aerospace official said regarding the export to Egypt, "There is no information I can confirm."

The appearance of the Hanwha Aerospace booth at the defense industry exhibition held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2023. Various weapons systems including precision-guided missiles Cheonmu, Cheongeom, and K9 self-propelled howitzer package are displayed. / Courtesy of Hanwha Aerospace
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