Hanwha Aerospace announced on July. 10. that it has secured a supply contract with the Romanian Ministry of National Defence for K9 self-propelled howitzers, support equipment, ammunition, and more. The contract, worth 1.3828 trillion won (approximately $998.41 million), extends until July 2029. In partnership with local companies, Hanwha Aerospace plans to begin delivering 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 36 K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles starting in 2027.
With this contract, Romania becomes the 10th operator of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the 6th within NATO. Hanwha Aerospace won the contract over Germany’s PzH2000 and Türkiye’s T155 Firtina. In addition to the K9 and K10, Hanwha Aerospace’s proposal included a comprehensive defense package featuring wheeled reconnaissance and meteorological observation equipment, as well as ammunition, which played a crucial role in securing the deal.
Hanwha Aerospace also intends to participate in Romania’s Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program. Competing with leading defense companies from Germany and the UK, Hanwha Aerospace will promote its Redback IFV, which has successfully passed rigorous tests and was selected by the Australian Army. Sharing the same power system as the K9, the Redback is expected to enhance maintenance efficiency for the Romanian Army.
Meanwhile, as Romania celebrates its 20th anniversary of NATO membership this year, the country plans to increase its defense budget from 2% to 2.5% of GDP. By 2032, Romania aims to invest $39.9 billion (approximately 54 trillion won) in major weapon acquisitions to strengthen regional security.
