The South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace will produce in Romania the 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) K9 Thunder and the associated ammunition resupply vehicle K10. The factory in our country will also manufacture infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
The Romanian branch of the South Korean manufacturer will produce the 155mm self-propelled howitzer K9 Thunder that has already been selected by Romania, as well as by Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Poland.
Hanwha Aerospace Romania has already identified several qualified local companies to work on this program, but continues the process of engaging more qualified local suppliers and subcontractors, said Peter J.K Bae, the head of the branch in our country, to European Security & Defence.
According to him, local production of the K9 howitzer will begin in the first half of 2025.
The factory, the first in Europe built by Hanwha Aerospace, will be state-of-the-art, with equipment testing facilities, research, training, as well as maintenance, repairs, and overhauls.
Hanwha Aerospace Romania will also have the capacity to produce infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) Redback, in case the unit in our country secures the contract to equip the Romanian army with these vehicles or if it receives contracts from another European country, Bae mentioned.
The IFV K21 model, in service with the South Korean army, has also been selected by the Australian army, where it is known as the AS21 Redback.
According to the representative, the Redback is "the most modernized infantry fighting armored vehicle," providing the technology and performance that the Romanian army needs. Among Redback's capabilities are:
- enhanced crew comfort through the use of rubber tracks and independent suspension;
- high levels of protection, both internally and externally, to suit a range of combat scenarios;
- an active protection system to counter direct anti-armor threats.
The company has not yet disclosed the location where the factory will be built.
Hanwha Aerospace, the largest defense company in South Korea, inaugurated on August 23 a production unit for armored vehicles (H-ACE) in Geelong, Australia. The factory in Australia is similar to the one that Hanwha Aerospace plans to build in Romania.
Hanwha Aerospace signed a billion-dollar contract in July to supply Romania with 54 self-propelled howitzers K9 and 36 ammunition resupply vehicles K10. The contract also includes dozens of wheeled support vehicles along with the associated ammunition.
After Norway and Australia, Romania will be the third global operator of the K10, which enables fully automated resupply capability to maximize artillery force efficiency.
T.D.