OCTOBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8OCTOBERNEWSROOM HANWHA AEROSPACE WINS $110M SWEDEN ARTILLERY CONTRACTHanwha Aerospace has signed a 150 billion (US$110 million) contract with Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to supply 155 mm modular charge systems (MCS) for artillery.The three-year framework agreement, finalized during the AUSA 2025 meeting in Washington, DC, enables multiple orders over time, with deliveries beginning in 2026.The MCS is a NATO-compliant propellant system that allows artillery crews to adjust charges depending on range and mission requirements, enhancing flexibility compared to fixed propellant designs. The system will support Sweden's Archer L/52 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, bolstering the country's stockpiles amid heightened demand for advanced munitions across Europe.The agreement builds on Hanwha's previous contracts with FMV and aligns with Sweden's broader Nordic Strategic Partnership with Denmark, Finland, and Norway to strengthen regional ammunition supply security. Nordic defense manufacturer Nammo, jointly owned by Norway and Finland, also participates in this initiative, which aims to integrate commercial innovation into military procurement.FMV uses public procurement portals like Kommers Annons for transparency and requires suppliers to adhere to Swedish social responsibility and ILO labor conventions.The collaboration reinforces Hanwha's growing presence in the European defense market, particularly within the NATO ecosystem, where its K9 self-propelled howitzer and modular ammunition technologies are gaining traction. YZI LABS LEADS $50M ROUND IN BETTER PAYMENT NETWORKYZi Labs has led a US$50 million funding round in Better Payment Network (BPN), a programmable payments platform focused on multi-stablecoin transactions.The funds will support the creation of on-chain liquidity pools, enhance market-making infrastructure, and expand BPN's cross-border payment ecosystem across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.\Built on BNB Chain, BPN develops programmable payment rails that facilitate fiat-backed stablecoin settlements for both regulated, KYC-compliant enterprises and DeFi users. The network aims to cut cross-border transfer costs from 2-0.3 percent and reduce settlement times from 1­2 days to a few hours for neobanks, payment platforms, and remittance providers.BPN currently supports BBRL, cNGN, MEXAS, and EURI stablecoins with real-time conversions and plans to onboard up to 20 regional stablecoins by year-end. However, the firm's regulatory status remains unclear, lacking VASP, EMI, or MSB certifications, which could pose compliance risks for its expansion roadmap.The company operates KYC/KYB fiat gateways in Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, and the EU, though it has not disclosed banking partners or money transmitter licenses. Still, the partnership underscores YZi Labs' confidence in blockchain-based financial infrastructure and programmable payments innovation.BPN plans to release a developer portal with APIs, SDKs, and corridor mapping tools to support real-time integrations for builders across payment ecosystems. · YZi Labs leads $50M funding in Better Payment Network on BNB Chain· BPN to expand stablecoin-based cross-border payment infrastructure· Regulatory clarity and developer tools critical for next growth phase· Hanwha Aerospace signs $110M deal with Sweden's FMV for 155 mm modular charge systems· Three-year framework supports multiple orders and starts deliveries in 2026· Strengthens Nordic defense cooperation and supply chain resilience
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