Romanian-Korean collaboration for the development of the defense industry

Hanwha Aerospace announced, yesterday, during the Land Warfare Europe conference in Bucharest, the opening of the Hanwha Aerospace Romania branch, a company designed to help the development of the defense industry in our country and the transfer of technology in this field, according to a press release provided to the Editor by the South Korean company.

Peter Bae, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Romania, said: "By opening the Hanwha Aerospace Romania subsidiary, we are committed to providing the Romanian Army with state-of-the-art defense capabilities. We will also strengthen partnerships with local industry and defense companies by implementing valuable localization programs such as local manufacturing, technology transfer and MRO services."

To support these goals, Peter Bae outlined plans to build a state-of-the-art facility in Romania that will include manufacturing, research, testing, training and MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) services. Hanwha Aerospace Romania also aims to integrate Romanian companies into Hanwha's global supply chain, contributing to the delivery of essential defense systems, such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer, used by 10 countries, six of which are NATO members.

Also, Hanwha Aerospace Romania proposes the Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for Romania's Infantry Fighting Vehicle Modernization Program. The Redback has been selected for Australia's LAND 400 Phase 3 program dedicated to next-generation infantry fighting vehicles. The tracked vehicle features best-in-class armored protection, mobility and lethality based on a number of innovative technologies such as composite rubber tracks, an active protection system and a helmet-mounted transparent armored shield.

Due to the high compatibility between the K9 and Redback in terms of chassis and powertrain, operating both systems could result in significant cost savings and production efficiencies for industry, as well as operational benefits for the military.

Read Hanwha introduced us to the infantry vehicle with the highest degree of protection in the world

We mention that Hanwha Aerospace Romania has made a commitment to support the modernization of the Armed Forces of Romania and to contribute to the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank, in response to the security challenges and threats generated by the war in Ukraine. We remind you that in July 2024 Hanwha Aerospace signed an important contract with the Ministry of National Defense of Romania regarding the delivery of 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition replenishment vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027, and to support this partnership, Hanwha Aerospace is investing in production and maintenance facilities in Romania.

To expand collaboration in Romania's defense sector, Hanwha Aerospace has signed a memorandum of understanding with Romarm, Romania's national defense company, and INCAS, a local aviation research center. This partnership aims to improve supply and maintenance capabilities for advanced weapon systems, including K9 howitzers and Redback infantry fighting vehicles, paving the way for stronger industrial cooperation.