Brent Ingraham, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, visited Hanwha Aerospace's Changwon plant on the 26th of last month, the company said on the 2nd. The delegation reviewed automated production and quality-control facilities, including robotic welding, for the wheeled K9 self-propelled howitzer and watched mobility demonstrations of wheeled and tracked K9 systems. Hanwha also presented the Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system, M-SAM, L-SAM, the Redback infantry fighting vehicle and the Korean Vertical Launching System. The visit followed Hanwha Defense USA's $262.9 million contract to supply up to 18 wheeled K9 prototypes over four years for the U.S. Army's Mobile Towed Cannon program. Ingraham oversees more than 550 acquisition programs worth a combined $170 billion. The sides discussed Korea-U.S. defense-industry cooperation and support for modernizing U.S. Army capabilities. Hanwha is also pursuing a broader U.S. defense procurement strategy through shipbuilding, including its pursuit of Austal USA after acquiring Philly Shipyard.