According to Park Eun-jee on koreajoongangdaily.com, Hanwha Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Romania’s state-run defense company to export its K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer and AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the Korean engine and arms manufacturer announced Tuesday, February 7.
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Hanwha K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) and K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV) (Picture source: U.S. Army, Yuma Proving Ground)
The MoU with Romarm concerns the provision and maintenance of the K9 Thunder and AS21 Redback IFVs, although the size and duration of the preliminary agreement were not disclosed. If the MoU develops into a formal contract, it will mark the latest in a string of arms deals signed with European nations, Park Eun-jee writes.
Hanwha Defense, whose defense unit is now merged with Hanwha Aerospace, sold 212 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers costing a total of 3.2 trillion won ($2.5 billion) in 2022. A contract for a second batch of 460 K9s is being negotiated, according to local media outlets. Other NATO members like Norway, Finland and Estonia also bought the K9 which is deployed in 10 countries around the world.
The K9 Thunder is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and civil contractors including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aerospace Industries for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and is now manufactured by Hanwha Defense. K9 howitzers operate in groups with the K10 automatic ammunition resupply vehicle variant.The entire K9 fleet operated by the ROK Armed Forces is now undergoing upgrades to K9A1, and a further upgrade variant K9A2 is being tested for production. As of 2022, the K9 series has had a 52% share of the global self-propelled howitzer market, including wheeled vehicles, since the year 2000.
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il, left in the first row, and Florentina Micu, Romarm's director, at the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding in Romania on Feb. 6 (Picture source: Hanwha Aerospace)
