K9A1 self-propelled howitzers fire during a drill in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 29, 2023. Newsis

Hanwha Systems clinched a symbolic contract to export its fire direction and control systems used for armed vehicles and artilleries to Egypt for the first time among Korean defense firms, the company said Friday.

Typically, most countries that import armored vehicles have equipped them with their own arms control systems developed by their domestic suppliers, as each country has different defense operational concepts.

Hanwha Systems underscored the significance of the latest achievement, as it is expected to pave the way for the company to receive more arms control systems orders from other countries.

Under the contract, the defense arm of Hanwha Group will supply fire direction systems for 51 K11 armed vehicles and fire control systems for 216 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers. The contract is worth 30.5 billion won ($20.72 million) and 44.3 billion won, respectively.

Hanwha Systems will provide the two arms control systems to the country between 2025 and 2028.

The fire direction system is a core tactical control device that transmits fire-related key information, such as target identification. The system is also used to issue firing commands to the K9A1 howitzers.

The fire control system for the howitzers serves as a ballistic computer calculating and predicting the future location of a target.

The company will supply customized fire direction systems to Egypt, as coastal artillery fire capabilities against hostile ships are crucial due to the country's geographical proximity to the sea.

"We are excited to have broken into the market in the Middle East with our first export of a fire direction and control system," an official from the Hanwha affiliate said.

"Hanwha Systems will continue to secure more overseas orders and expand the range of export items by aggressively promoting and showcasing the prowess of Korean defense technologies to our overseas clients."