Hanwha Participates in Romanian Weapon Modernization... "Expanding Business in Europe"

MOU with State-Owned Defense Company Romam
Son Jae-il, Hanwha Aero CEO, Attends
Export Promotion of K9 and Redback Systems

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] Hanwha Aerospace is participating in Romania's 'Defense Modernization and Power Enhancement Project.' The company aims to expand its European business based on the trust built through timely exports of K9 self-propelled howitzers to neighboring Poland and its world-class defense technology.

Hanwha Aerospace announced on the 6th (local time) that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for weapons system cooperation with the state-owned defense company ROMARM in Romania.

The signing ceremony was attended by Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace; Florentina Micu, President of ROMARM; Im Gap-su, Ambassador of Korea to Romania; and Florin Marian Spataru, Minister of Economy of Romania.

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to discuss areas of mutual cooperation related to the supply and utilization of Hanwha Aerospace's representative weapon systems such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), as well as maintenance and repair.

Minister Spataru of Romania's Ministry of Economy welcomed the MOU between the two companies and emphasized, "The government also promises to continuously strive to strengthen production capabilities in the defense industry sector."

Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il (front row, left) and Florentina Miku, President of Romanian state-owned defense company ROMARM (front row, right), are shaking hands after signing an MOU. In the center at the back is Im Gap-su, Korean Ambassador to Romania, and on the right is Marian Spataru, Romanian Minister of Economy.
[Photo by Hanwha Aerospace]

Romania, a NATO member country bordering Ukraine, is currently promoting a military modernization project by increasing its defense budget. In particular, there is high interest in introducing proven Korean weapon systems to replace outdated weapon systems centered on armored vehicles and towed artillery.

Already, senior officials from the Romanian Ministry of Defense visited Korea three times in September and December last year and January this year to explore possibilities for intergovernmental defense cooperation and to tour Hanwha Aerospace's Changwon plant, confirming its world-class technological capabilities.

Since signing a contract worth 3.2 trillion KRW in August last year to supply 212 K9 self-propelled howitzers to Poland, Hanwha Aerospace has been delivering them sequentially. The K9 is operated by nine countries, including NATO members such as Poland, Norway, Finland, and Estonia.

Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, said, "If this MOU leads to exports in the future, the K9 self-propelled howitzer will become a proven premium weapon system used by 10 countries worldwide," adding, "Based on the trust built with Poland, we will expand our business not only in Romania but throughout Europe."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.