[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Hanwha Aerospace has broken ground on a new production facility in Romania to locally manufacture the K9 self-propelled howitzer and K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, marking a key step in establishing a European ground systems production base.

The company announced on Feb. 11 that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the “H-ACE Europe” plant in Petrești, Dâmbovița County, Romania. The facility will serve as a core production hub supporting the local assembly of K9 howitzers and K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.

Hanwha Aerospace plans to establish a full life-cycle support system at the site, including assembly, integration, testing, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. The company aims to increase localization to as much as 80% through Romanian industrial participation.

Built on a 181,055-square-meter site, H-ACE Europe will feature advanced assembly lines, performance and validation testing facilities, and a dedicated driving test track. Over time, Hanwha intends to expand the facility’s capabilities to include production and support for advanced ground systems such as infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), long-range precision strike systems, and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), positioning it as a broader European defense hub.

The company will strengthen manufacturing capabilities through cooperation with Romanian partners during construction and operations. Hanwha plans to expand collaboration with more than 30 local partners and support the integration of Romanian firms into its global supply chain.

In July last year, Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract with Romania to supply 54 K9 howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles. Romania became the 10th member of the K9 User Club and the sixth NATO member state to operate the K9 system.

A Hanwha Aerospace official said the establishment of local production will enable stable support for Romania’s defense modernization efforts while contributing to industrial cooperation and regional economic development.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Lee Yong-chul, head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Marius Gabriel Lazurca, Presidential Adviser for National Security and Foreign Policy of Romania, Deputy Prime Minister Tánczos Barna, Romanian Minister of Economy Ambrozie-Irinel Darău, and Corneliu Ștefan, President of the Dâmbovița County Council, among others.

 

 

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