South Korean company Hanwha plans to build an armament plant in Dambovita County within two years, with the prospect of turning it into a regional hub for components, maintenance and repairs, Hanwha Global Defense CEO Michael Coulter said at a meeting with Romanian journalists.

He pointed out that, from the perspective of his company, the best solution to current challenges is the strengthening of regional industries and local acquisitions.

In addition to exporting our products, which will continue, we would like to operate locally in our strategic markets, said the company representative.

Moreover, Coulter said that he sees Romania as a hub for operations in Europe.

Here, in Romania, there is a need for industrial consolidation, and we are focused on delivering the K9 and K10 howitzers. We are in the process of building a factory where we will produce components. In the first phase, we will deliver directly due to the urgent need, but over time, we will bring the production of the K9 and K10 to Romania, he added.

He affirmed that efforts are being made to accelerate the process and estimated that the factory construction would be completed in two years, with construction starting in the first quarter of next year.

The first batch of 18 K9 howitzers and 12 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles will be delivered directly from South Korea, while the plant in Romania will be built at the same time, he mentioned.

The South Korean company has already opened an office in Bucharest, and at the time of the plant construction, it will collaborate with Romanian companies such as Pro Optica or Iveco.

The location where the plant will be built from scratch is in Dambovita County.

Coulter said that the optimal solution for Romania is to make acquisitions in Romania.

Our priority is (the delivery - editor's note) of the K9 and K10, according to the agreement with the Romanian government, but we already have several such vehicles in NATO and Europe, so the idea is to be able to produce components, to be able to do maintenance and repairs here in Romania. I think this is something that can be achieved fairly soon, Coulter said.

He estimated that the Hanwha's activities in Romania could lead to creating up to 2,000 jobs but this will depend largely on what further works we will have (in the factory), what kind of maintenance and repair works, what other businesses will come to the factory.

I believe we have a sufficient base in Dambovita for the beginning, but we will certainly focus on developing the workforce. We will focus on talent development, he said.

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South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace and the Ministry of National Defence of Romania signed a contract in July last year for the supply of 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and 36 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles (ARV), with the contract valued at approximately one billion dollars.

Thus, Romania will become the tenth country to operate the K9 SPH of 155 mm/52 calibre. Among NATO member states, Romania will be the sixth country to use the K9, after Türkiye, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. After Norway and Australia, Romania will also be the third global operator of the K10, which allows for fully automated resupply capabilities to maximize artillery force efficiency.

According to the contract, Hanwha will deliver the vehicles in stages over the next five years, with the first delivery expected by the beginning of 2027. Most of the vehicles will be manufactured in Romania, with extensive involvement from local suppliers. The deliveries will be made in three batches of 18 K9s and 12 K10s.

The delivery term for the first system is 30 months from signing, for the second - 40 months from signing, and for the third - 60 months. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)