The Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) is opening export doors for Korea's mid-sized defense corporations. Uzbekistan is showing interest in weapons from SNT Dynamics, Poongsan, and Korea Defense Industry (KDI).
According to the defense industry on the 24th, a senior Uzbek official visited SNT Dynamics' booth at ADEX on the 20th and asked, "By when can you deliver this mortar?" The weapon mentioned is a 120 mm mortar mounted on a light tactical vehicle (LTV). The wheeled mortar is scheduled to be trial-operated by the Korea Marine Corps starting next year. The 120 mm mortar was developed to replace the 4.2-inch (107 mm) mortar.
Uzbek officials reportedly continued related discussions by visiting the SNT Dynamics plant in the Changwon National Industrial Complex in South Gyeongsang on the 22nd, two days after the booth visit. Uzbekistan wants dozens of 120 mm mortars.
Given its mountainous terrain, Uzbekistan wants to introduce mortars with high mobility. After importing SNT Dynamics' wheeled mortar with a 120 mm mortar mounted on a vehicle, Uzbekistan is said to hope to acquire the know-how and mount mortars on its own vehicles.
In addition to the 120 mm mortar weapons system, Uzbekistan is seeking to secure artillery shells. After visiting the Poongsan booth, Uzbek officials reportedly met separately with KDI to discuss artillery fuzes. A fuze is a device that detonates the explosive inside a shell. Types vary depending on purpose and operational conditions.
If a contract with Uzbekistan is concluded, it will be the first export of the 120 mm mortar. Currently, the only force using this weapon in actual operations is the Korea Army. The "Bi-Gyeok" operated by the Army is a weapons system that mounts SNT Dynamics' 120 mm mortar on Hanwha Aerospace's armored vehicle. The project to introduce more than 200 units was completed in May.
Industry officials say that because Uzbekistan's economy is small, government financial support will need to back the deal for exports to proceed.