Hanwha Aerospace Launches Europe’s First K9 Production Hub in Romania
South Korean defence firm Hanwha Aerospace has started construction of its first European armoured vehicle production facility in Petrești, Romania. The site is designed to support local assembly of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and K10 ammunition vehicles.
Hanwha Aerospace has formally broken ground on a new production facility in Petrești, Dâmbovița County, marking its first manufacturing investment on European soil. The site, designated the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) Europe, reflects a multi-year industrial partnership with Romania and aims to serve domestic modernisation objectives while enhancing NATO and broader European defence industrial capabilities.
The ceremony drew senior Romanian government figures and officials from South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration, underlining political and strategic support on both sides. Hanwha Aerospace described the project as foundational to transforming its Romanian subsidiary into a locally anchored defence producer.
Covering roughly 181,000 sqm, the facility will house advanced assembly lines, testing and validation infrastructure, a driving test track, and R&D laboratories. Initial work will focus on the K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer and the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, both part of a July 2024 supply agreement with Bucharest. Hanwha said it intends to achieve up to 80 % localisation through integration with Romanian industry partners.
Beyond manufacturing, H-ACE Europe is being planned to support the full life cycle of land systems, with potential expansion into infantry fighting vehicle production, long-range precision systems, and unmanned platforms. Hanwha is engaging more than 30 local partners to integrate them into its global supply chain, and estimates the broader industrial footprint could support significant job creation.
The Romania project aligns with Hanwha’s wider strategy to deepen its footprint in NATO markets. It complements its nearly $1 billion contract with Romania for 54 K9 howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition vehicles, due to begin deliveries in 2027 under phased implementation.
