Hanwha plans to establish an arms factory in Romania’s Dambovita county within two years, aiming to create a regional hub for the production, maintenance, and repair of its K9 and K10 howitzers. The company, having secured a contract with Romania’s Ministry of Defense last July to supply these vehicles, intends to shift production to Romania over time, initially fulfilling urgent orders through direct imports.
The factory’s construction, slated to begin in the first quarter of next year, will involve collaboration with Romanian companies like Pro Optica and Iveco. Hanwha has already established a Bucharest office to coordinate the project. The initial phase of vehicle delivery, as per the contract, will see units shipped from South Korea while the Romanian facility is simultaneously built.
Hanwha envisions the Romanian factory generating up to 2,000 jobs, with training opportunities provided to local specialists in South Korea or through on-site courses. The company’s strategic vision extends beyond fulfilling the current contract, aiming to position Romania as a central hub for European operations, handling component production, maintenance, and repairs for its systems within NATO and Europe.
In July 2024, Hanwha Aerospace and the Ministry of National Defence of Romania signed a contract for the supply of 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and 36 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles (ARV), with the contract valued at approximately $1.0 billion dollars. Hanwha will deliver the vehicles in stages over the next five years, with the first delivery expected by the beginning of 2027. Most of the vehicles will be manufactured in Romania, with extensive involvement from local suppliers. The deliveries will be made in three batches of 18 K9s and 12 K10s.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began his career at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet became central to defense research, he helped design the company’s Forecast Intelligence Center and now coordinates the FI Market Recap newsletters for clients. He also manages two blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, which covers defense systems and international security issues, and Flight Plan, focused on commercial aviation and space systems.
For more than 30 years, Richard has authored Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International), providing detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database tracking all companies involved in programs covered by the FI library. Richard currently serves as Manager of the Information Services Group (ISG), which develops outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
