Hanwha Aerospace said Tuesday it has broken ground in Romania on a local plant, dubbed H-ACE Europe, to produce K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles.
The company said the new facility is intended to establish a European base for local production of its ground systems and strengthen Romania’s and Europe’s defense supply chains.
A groundbreaking ceremony in Petresti, Dambovita County, was attended by Lee Yong-cheol, head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration; Marius Gabriel Lazurca, presidential adviser for national security and foreign policy; Deputy Prime Minister Barna Tanczos; Economy Minister Ambrozie-Irineu Darau; and Corneliu Stefan, chairman of the Dambovita County Council, the company said.
Hanwha said H-ACE Europe will serve as a key hub for local production of the K9 and K10 and will support the full life cycle, including assembly, integration, testing and maintenance, repair and overhaul. It aims to raise localization to as much as 80% through Romanian industrial participation.
The site in Petresti will be built on about 181,055 square meters and is planned to include advanced assembly lines, performance and verification test facilities, and a 1,751-meter driving test track, Hanwha said.
The company said it plans to expand the facility’s capabilities in stages so it can develop into a regional hub that can also produce and support advanced ground systems such as infantry fighting vehicles, long-range precision strike systems and unmanned ground vehicles.
Hanwha said it will strengthen cooperation with Romanian partners during operations, expanding collaboration to more than 30 local companies and supporting Romanian firms’ entry into global supply chains.
In July 2024, Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract with Romania to supply 54 K9 howitzers and 36 K10 vehicles. Romania became the 10th member of the K9 User Club and the sixth NATO member to operate the K9, the company said.
“By building a local production base in Romania, we will respond steadily to Romania’s defense modernization needs and contribute to expanded industrial cooperation and the local economy,” a Hanwha Aerospace official said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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