Hanwha Aerospace has commenced construction of a European production hub in Romania dedicated to manufacturing K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.
The new complex, designated H-ACE (Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence) Europe, will be built in Petrești. Spanning approximately 181,000 square meters (1.9 million square feet), the site will include modern assembly lines, testing and validation facilities, and a 1,751-meter (5,744-foot) vehicle test track.
Hanwha intends to deliver comprehensive life-cycle support at the facility, covering assembly, integration, testing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul. The company aims to achieve up to 80 percent local production through partnerships with Romanian industry.
The development follows a 2024 contract under which Romania ordered 54 K9 howitzers and 36 K10 resupply vehicles. Beyond fulfilling this order, Hanwha plans to broaden its European presence by expanding into infantry fighting vehicles, long-range precision strike systems, and unmanned ground vehicles, while incorporating more than 30 Romanian firms into its global supply chain.
Romania has increasingly become a destination for defense manufacturing investments. In 2022, Germany’s Rheinmetall opened a facility near Bucharest to assemble K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers for the Romanian armed forces, with integration and sustainment capabilities to support vehicles throughout their service life.
In 2023, Elbit Systems partnered with the state-owned Romarm to establish an artillery production facility focused on the transfer of technology for 155mm ATMOS advanced mobile howitzers. The project is intended to strengthen sovereign artillery manufacturing, create jobs, and position Romania as a regional center for artillery production.
