South Korea’s ambition to become a long-term strategic defense partner to India faces serious structural hurdles, as Seoul deepens its presence in one of the world’s most competitive and politically complex arms markets.

Hanwha Aerospace’s April 7 announcement of a follow-on contract to deliver additional K9 self-propelled howitzers to India reflects Seoul’s ambitions to entrench itself in New Delhi’s evolving defense ecosystem at a time when the country is accelerating efforts to reduce reliance on Russian systems and diversify its foreign suppliers.