Korea to export K9 howitzers to Romania in nearly $1 billion deal

Korea will export 1.3 trillion won ($938.7 million) worth of K9 self-propelled howitzers to Romania, marking the Eastern European country's largest weapons acquisition in seven years.

K9 self-propelled howitzers [YONHAP]

Korea will export 1.3 trillion won ($938.7 million) worth of K9 self-propelled howitzers to Romania, marking the Eastern European country's largest weapons acquisition in seven years.

The contract, signed by K9 manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace and the Romanian Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday, includes 54 K9 howitzers, 36 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles and ammunition, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Wednesday.

Hanwha Aerospace will begin delivering the contract items in 2027 in collaboration with local Romanian companies, the company said.

With this deal, Romania became the ninth foreign country to acquire the K9, following Australia, Egypt, India, Norway, Estonia, Turkey, Poland and Finland.

Romania has become a key Korean defense industry partner in Central Europe following its import of Chiron man-portable surface-to-air missiles last year and its latest adoption of the K9, DAPA said.

The decision comes after Romania's Defense Minister Angel Tilvar confirmed the decision to acquire the howitzers during his Korean counterpart Shin Won-sik's trip to Romania last month amid active high-level exchanges between the two nations.

Hanwha Aerospace said it triumphed over NATO member competitors, including Germany's PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer and Turkey's Fertina howitzer.

"After four months of competition, we were selected as the preferred bidder earlier this year," the company said. "Our proposal of a 'self-propelled howitzer package,' which included reconnaissance and weather observation equipment along with the K9 and K10, was instrumental in securing the deal."

The news of the K9 howitzer export to Romania drove Hanwha Aerospace's stock to a 52-week high during early trading on Wednesday at 273,500 won. Hanwha Aerospace's shares closed at 256,500 won, up by 1.79 percent from the previous trading day.

DAPA and Hanwha Aerospace are now eyeing the next Romanian project for infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), promoting the Korean Redback armored vehicle.

The Redback, also developed by Hanwha Aerospace, was exported to Australia last year with 129 units sold for $2.4 billion, following competition with top armored vehicles from the United States, Britain and Germany.

"Based on the success of the K9 self-propelled howitzer export, we anticipate expanding cooperation with Romania in ground weapon systems such as the Redback armored vehicle, K2 tanks and air defense systems," said DAPA Commissioner Seok Jong-gun.

BY SEO JI-EUN, LEE HAY-JUNE [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]