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Tanks and cannons.. Egypt and Morocco turn to South Korea to to reinforce military industrialization and technology transfer

The Korea Times newspaper revealed the opening of an Egyptian defense complex in the Songbuk neighborhood in the South Korean capital, Seoul, in the presence of military officials, diplomats, and representatives of South Korean defense companies. The move carried connotations that went beyond symbolism, as it reflected an Egyptian move to enhance cooperation with one of the fastest growing defense industries in the world.
Defense relations between Cairo and Seoul did not begin with the opening of this complex, but rather date back to previous years that witnessed an increasing convergence in the files of military manufacturing and technology transfer. In 2022, Egypt signed an agreement with the South Korean company Hanwa Aerospace to bring the K9 Thunder self-propelled guns into service, with a local version to be produced in Egypt. The deal also included K10 ammunition supply vehicles and K11 command and control vehicles.

The 155 mm “K9” cannon represents one of the most prominent products of the South Korean defense industries and the most widespread globally. However, the importance of the deal for Egypt is not only related to the fire capabilities or high mobility of the system, but rather to the transfer of technology and expansion of the local manufacturing base. According to specialized reports, Cairo aims to increase the proportion of the local component in the project, thus giving Egyptian military industries advanced expertise in the fields of fire control systems and electronics related to modern artillery.
Observers believe that the opening of an Egyptian defense complex inside the South Korean capital reflects Cairo's desire to build a long-term partnership with an industrial partner that enjoys technical flexibility and high productivity, especially in light of regional challenges and the requirements of modernizing the Egyptian Armed Forces. South Korea's reliance on systems compatible with Western standards also gives Cairo an additional advantage, given its extensive relations with Western arms suppliers, especially France, Italy and Germany.
Data circulating in defense circles show that Morocco is studying a number of advanced South Korean systems, including K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, in addition to air defense systems, submarines and combat aircraft, in the context of plans to modernize the Royal Armed Forces.
The factor that attracts Arab capitals to the Korean partner is not limited to the quality of weapons only, but also includes Seoul’s willingness to transfer technology and contribute to the localization of defense industries within the partner countries. This is a pivotal point for both Cairo and Rabat, which seek to build local military industrial bases that reduce dependence on foreign imports and support strategic independence in the long term.







