Romania Makes $1 Billion Defense Purchase from South Korea

Romania has signed a nearly $1 billion contract with South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace for the supply of 54 K9 155mm self-propelled howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition supply vehicles. This global contract also includes dozens of wheeled support vehicles and tens of thousands of shells with related ammunition. Hanwha Aerospace reports that most of the Romanian K9 artillery systems will be locally manufactured and repaired, involving extensive participation from local suppliers.

Hanwha Aerospace confirmed in a press release the contract with Romania’s Ministry of National Defense for the supply of 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and 36 K10 ammunition refueling vehicles (ARV). The contract, valued at approximately $1 billion, includes munitions and both tracked and wheeled support vehicles.

Romania becomes the 10th country to operate the 155 mm/52 caliber K9 SPH. Among the NATO member states, Romania is the sixth K9 user country, after Turkey, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. After Norway and Australia, Romania will also be the third global operator of the K10, which enables a fully automated replenishment capability to maximize the effectiveness of artillery forces,” the company states.

Hanwha will deliver the vehicles in stages over the next five years, with the first delivery expected to take place by early 2027. Most of the vehicles will be manufactured in Romania, with extensive involvement of local suppliers, according to the mentioned statement. Romania, through the company Romtehnica, launched in July 2023 a restricted tender for the purchase of three battalion-level 155 mm howitzer systems, including the related ammunition, a contract with an estimated value of over 4.1 billion lei (without VAT), according to an announcement published on Sunday in the Public Procurement Electronic System (SEAP).
K9 Thunder howitzers are operated in nine countries around the world, including five NATO countries: Poland, Norway, Estonia, Finland and Turkey. More than 1,800 K9 vehicles are in service now, representing about 50% of the global self-propelled howitzer market. Poland last year signed a $2.6 billion contract with South Korea to buy 150 more K9 self-propelled howitzers.
$ 1 billionammunitionartillerycontractdefenseHanwha AerospacehowitzersK9 Thunder howitzersPublic Procurement Electronic System (SEAP)South Korea
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  • Panagiotis Spyridis

    Sounds good