Hanwha vice chair pitches submarines to Polish president

Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan is stepping up efforts to win Poland's high-profile submarine project worth an estimated 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion), promoting the group's latest submarine model to Polish President Andrzej Sebastian Duda during an international defense show on Tuesday. 

Kim, the heir apparent of the chemicals-to-defense conglomerate in South Korea, made a brief pitch to the president for the 3,000-ton submarine of Jang Bogo-III class Batch-II during his visit to Hanwha's booth at the International Defense Industry Exhibition held in the Polish city of Kielce.

He showed off the submersible ability and the capability of its multi-purpose vertical launch tube. The naval vessel is named after renowned Korean maritime figure Jang Bogo of the ninth century.

Hanwha is one of some 10 bidders for Poland’s ORKA submarine program, under which the country plans to buy three to four new submarines armed with long-range cruise missiles to attack land targets.

Guiding Duda through its land, sea, air and space weapons systems displayed at its exhibition booth, Kim suggested it provide technological support to jointly produce weapons with Polish defense companies and utilize shipyards in Poland, as well as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) services, Hanwha said.

“Hanwha’s total solutions for the army, navy, and air defense industries will contribute to improving both country’s friendship and technology cooperation,” Kim told the Polish president.

During the Sept. 5-8 trade show, Hanwha signed a contract with the Polish Armaments Group, or Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), to offer MRO services for several decades after the state-run company purchases Hanwha’s weapon systems.

Last year, Hanwha Aerospace Co. clinched several-billion-dollar orders to supply Poland with the K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).

It is now seeking to win another round of orders for the howitzers.

Kim is the eldest son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn and a third-generation descendant of the family-controlled conglomerate. He oversees the group’s defense and solar energy units.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com
 

Yeonhee Kim edited this article.