SOUTH KOREA: FROM IMPORTED TECHNOLOGY TO INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP

India’s relationship with South Korea represents another dimension of the transformation.

The K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer, based on South Korean technology and produced in India through collaboration between Hanwha Aerospace and Larsen & Toubro, demonstrates how India is using international partnerships to build domestic manufacturing capability.

The first 100 K9 systems were delivered to the Indian Army between 2017 and 2020. A second phase provides for another 100 K9 howitzers to be produced at L&T’s facility in Gujarat, strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. In May 2026, India and South Korea also agreed to expand cooperation in defence cyber, training, UN peacekeeping, maritime security, emerging technologies and defence production.The relationship is therefore evolving from procurement towards co-development, co-production and technology cooperation.