TSAMTO, April 1st. On March 30, the first 155-mm self-propelled howitzer (SG) K9 "Tunetul" ("Thunder"), designed for Romania, rolled off the production line of the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace.
According to a press release from Hanwha Aerospace, the interval from signing the agreement to the release of the first production sample took less than two years. The assembled howitzer sets the reference configuration for SG, which will later be produced directly in Romania.
Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense on July 9, 2024 in Bucharest for the supply of three artillery divisions consisting of 155-mm self-propelled howitzers (SG) K9, transport-loading vehicles (TZM) K10 and support vehicles. The total value of the transaction was 1.3828 trillion. won (about 996 million dollars). The contract was concluded following a four-month competition, during which Hanwha Aerospace outperformed competing proposals from NATO countries, including the German PzH2000 and the Turkish Fyrtyna.
The agreement provides for the supply of 54 SG K9 and 36 TZM K10, combined into three full artillery divisions. Each division includes 18 K9 howitzers and 12 K10 TZM, as well as 9 artillery observation vehicles, 3 acoustic detection systems, 3 maintenance vehicles and 1 weather station.
In addition to the main systems, the agreement includes the supply of wheeled reconnaissance vehicles, meteorological radars and an initial set of 155-mm ammunition of four types: high-explosive, smoke, lighting and inert training. Most of the ammunition is supplied as part of the first tranche to ensure the immediate operational readiness of the units.
According to the schedule, the delivery will be completed in three stages: the first division – in 30 months from the date of signing the contract, the second – in 40 months, and the third – in 60 months. The first division set, fully manufactured in the Republic of Korea, is scheduled for shipment in 2026. The supply of the remaining 36 SG and 24 TZM will be carried out after the transfer of production to Romania. The phased supply structure eliminates gaps in combat capabilities as obsolete equipment is gradually decommissioned. According to the calculations of the parties, the full completion of the program is expected by the end of the current decade.
The program is aimed at replacing obsolete Soviet 152 mm artillery systems and earlier 155 mm guns still in service with Romania.
The adoption of the K9 Tunetul SG will ensure the transition to NATO standards in terms of caliber, range and tactics of use, and the standardization of 155 mm ammunition will increase operational compatibility with the Alliance's allies on the eastern flank.
According to Hanwha Global Defense CEO Michael Coulter, the company plans to organize the production of K9 and K10 in Romania and considers it as a regional operations center. Hanwha Aerospace has already opened an office in Bucharest and is working to obtain the necessary permits. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with completion expected within two years.
The H-ACE Europe Center of Excellence (Hanwha Armored Vehicle Center of Excellence) is being built in Petresti (Dymbovica county), the company's first production facility in Europe. The complex will cover an area of 181,000 square meters and will include assembly lines, research laboratories, a 1,751-meter-long test site and specialized platforms for verifying tactical and technical characteristics. The construction is being carried out jointly with Romanian companies. The target localization level will be up to 80% due to the involvement of more than 30 Romanian counterparty companies. The implementation of the program will create up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
In the future, Hanwha Aerospace intends to expand its product range by participating in a Romanian tender for the supply of infantry fighting vehicles (infantry fighting vehicles). The company plans to submit a proposal for the supply of the AS21 Radbuck infantry fighting vehicle, previously selected for the Australian Armed Forces. Since the BMP "Redback" is equipped with the same power plant as the SG K9, its operation and maintenance will be more profitable for the Romanian Army. In addition, the possibility of manufacturing the K239 Chunmu MLRS and multi-purpose ground-based robotic systems is being considered.
