Hanwha Aerospace is to supply the Romanian Land Forces with 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs), 36 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles and various other support vehicles following the signing of a contract with the Romanian Ministry of National Defence on 9 July 2024.
The contract, which is worth around USD 1 billion (EUR 0.92 billion), will be executed over the next five years, with the first delivery to be made by early 2027. Most of the vehicles are to be manufactured in Romania with the extensive involvement of local suppliers.
Romania has thus become the 10th customer nation operating the 155 mm/52-calibre K9 SPH and the sixth NATO K9 user nation after Türkiye, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. Following Norway and Australia, Romania will also be the third global operator of the K10, which provides a fully automated resupplying capability to maximise the efficiency of K9-equipped artillery forces.
“This is a remarkable deal that can further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries,” Jaeil Son, president and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “This contract involves not only artillery vehicles but also supporting vehicles and ammunition, representing Hanwha Aerospace’s capability to provide a total package of advanced defence solutions based on its high level of technological expertise and world-leading production capacity.”
“Hanwha Aerospace is committed to maximising benefits to the Romanian defence industry through various types of localisation programmes, which include local production of defence equipment, local employment, technology transfer, and the establishment of a centre of excellence for MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] operations in a new greenfield facility in Romania,” added Peter Bae, vice president of Hanwha Aerospace Europe. “Romanian industry’s inclusion in Hanwha Aerospace’s broad global supply chains is one of the potential benefits Romania could take from the collaboration. Through this partnership, alongside with other future projects, Romania would become a hub of Hanwha Aerospace’s land business in Europe.”
As part of efforts to broaden its partnership and business with Bucharest, Hanwha Aerospace is promoting its Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for Romania’s IFV modernisation programme.
In 2023 the Redback was selected as Australia’s next-generation IFV under the Land 400 Phase 3 programme for the delivery of 129 vehicles, most of which are to be built at a facility in Geelong, Victoria. To win the high-profile Australian IFV contest the Redback successfully went through what Hanwha describes as “the world’s most competitive IFV tests and evaluations, proving its overwhelming manoeuvrability and lethality compared to other armoured combat vehicles”.
A high level of commonality between the K9 SPH and Redback IFV in terms of powertrain and chassis could serve to strengthen the latter’s chances in Romania, as its selection could increase the efficiency of producing, operating and maintaining both systems.
