NATO strengthens with K9 Thunder — Hanwha Defense develops production hub in Romania
South Korean defense giant Hanwha Defense has announced an ambitious project to create a regional center in Romania. The large-scale complex will provide production, maintenance, and repair of advanced K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery systems and K10 supply vehicles for NATO countries.
Strategic Partnership and Technological Breakthrough
South Korean defense giant Hanwha Defense is significantly expanding its presence in the region by establishing a large-scale production complex in Romania. The project launches following a recently concluded contract to supply 54 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition supply vehicles for the Romanian armed forces.
According to The Defense Post, construction of the center will begin in the first quarter of 2026 in Dambovita County. It’s important to note that the construction schedule is synchronized with the delivery of the first batch of equipment — 18 K9 howitzers and 12 K10 vehicles, which will arrive directly from South Korea.
To implement the project, Hanwha Defense is joining forces with industry leaders — Iveco and Pro Optica. The scale of the initiative is impressive: creating approximately 2,000 jobs for local specialists after the center becomes operational.
Hanwha Global Defense CEO Michael Coulter emphasized the project’s comprehensiveness: “Our center won’t be limited to component manufacturing. We plan to conduct full-cycle maintenance and repair of equipment in Romania, serving the needs of all NATO member countries.”
According to Agerpres news agency, the contract implementation will occur in three stages with gradual transfer of production capabilities to Romania and involvement of local enterprises. Upon completion of the project, Romania will become the tenth country in the world and the sixth NATO nation to operate K9 Thunder systems, significantly strengthening its defense capabilities and position within the alliance.
The establishment of Hanwha Defense’s regional center in Romania will become a powerful boost for the development of the defense industry in the region and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. This strategic decision will not only provide alliance countries with advanced artillery equipment but also create new opportunities for economic development.
