South Korean K9 Thunder Howitzer Win in Romanian Artillery System Tender

Defense News ,Romania :- In recent developments reported by local Romanian media, Hanwha Aerospace, the renowned South Korean technology giant, has successfully secured the tender for supplying the Romanian Armed Forces with a new 155mm artillery system, specifically the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer.

Unofficial sources, notably the Defense Romania website, have revealed that Hanwha Aerospace's K9 Thunder outshone competing offers from German (Panzerhaubitze 2000) and Turkish (T-155 Firtina II) defense industry companies. Although the Polish defense industry expressed interest, the proposal from Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) was reportedly rejected.

The selected version of the K9 howitzer by Romania, whether it be the K9A1 or the upgraded K9A2, remains undisclosed at this point. Confirmation from the Romanian Ministry of National Defence is awaited to solidify the outcome.

Should the information be affirmed, Romania is poised to join the ranks of European nations utilizing the K9 howitzer, a system already in service with Poland, Finland, Norway, and Estonia.

Romania's procurement plans include signing a contract for 54 self-propelled howitzers, along with 18,000 artillery rounds, 27 spare barrels, and additional vehicles encompassing ammunition vehicles, technical support vehicles, and artillery reconveyance vehicles. The budget allocated for this comprehensive program by Bucharest is estimated to be around EUR 850 million.