Vietnam’s purchase of 20 K9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea marks a pivotal moment in Seoul’s efforts to expand its defense industry partnerships into Southeast Asia. The deal, estimated at $245 million, also could be a turning point in Vietnam’s military modernization.
It is South Korea’s first K9 export to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations member and reflects the broader strategy behind Seoul’s K-Defense initiative to position itself as a premier supplier of defense platforms.
For Vietnam, the agreement represents a decisive step away from decades of reliance on Russian-made hardware, which accounted for more than 80% of Hanoi’s military imports from 1995 to 2022. That dependence has grown increasingly untenable amid supply chain disruptions, performance limitations and international sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
South Korean weapons systems such as the K9 have multifaceted appeal, including quality, cost-effectiveness and ongoing support services, according to Dr. Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the Rand Corp., a United States-based think tank.
South Korea, which is formally known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), is the world’s 10th-largest arms exporter, accounting for 2.2% of global supplies from 2020-24, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While most of Seoul’s customers are in Europe, such as Poland, and the Middle East, it is seeking deals in East and Southeast Asia.
The K9 sale coincides with increased high-level defense engagement between Hanoi and Seoul. In August 2025, ROK Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang agreed to expand a long-standing memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation, furthering ties under the countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also marked the transfer of the third ROK patrol vessel to Vietnam, underscoring the breadth of bilateral cooperation, the Nguoi Viet newspaper reported.
The following month, ROK Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee and Senior Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s deputy defense chief, co-chaired the nations’12th Defense Policy Dialogue in Seoul. The meeting emphasized expanded cooperation in training, peacekeeping, research and the defense industry.
The K9 deal could lead to broader cooperation, as Vietnam’s growing interest in interoperability and standardization — transitioning from Russian calibers toward NATO-compatible systems, for example — positions South Korea as an attractive supplier. Vietnam could consider additional acquisitions, including coproduction agreements.
“Vietnam, being a manufacturing powerhouse, is a natural candidate for that kind of arrangement,” Bennett said.
