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.

Experts told Korea Prothat the new contract, alongside India’s deterrence needs along its borders with Pakistan and