The South Korean defense industry expansion to Romania
Like many other European countries, Romania is also increasing its defense spending and modernizing its own armed forces. According to information from the last few weeks and months, it seems that the South Korean defense industry is playing a major role in the modernization of the Romanian ground forces. Indeed, it is recording its first successes in Romania, which may soon be joined by others. It is rumored that Romania could procure hundreds of K2 Black Panther tanks and AS21 Redback vehicles after the Korean K9 howitzers and K10 ammunition supply vehicles were procured.
The equipment of the Romanian ground forces is largely based on upgraded weapon systems from the Cold War era. In their armament, we can find, for example, TR-85 tanks and their more modern versions TR-85M1, but also old Soviet T-55 tanks. In the case of infantry fighting vehicles, the MLI-84 and the modernized MLI-84M Jderul are being operated by the Romanian ground forces, but both of these systems are based on the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. More modern Piranha V wheeled infantry fighting vehicles are also part of the armament. In terms of artillery, the backbone of this type of forces is made up of the eastern caliber 152-millimeter systems from the Cold War era.
Information from the last few months indicates that Romania has found an important partner in its efforts to bring its ground forces up to modern standards. That partner is South Korea, or rather the South Korean defense industry. This East Asian country is becoming a stronger player in the military equipment market every year and is trying to break into the European markets as well. Romania seems poised to become the second European country after Poland to establish extensive cooperation with the South Korean defense industry.
The first success of the Korean defense industry in Romania is the signing of a contract between the Korean company Hanwha Aerospace and the Romanian Ministry of Defense for the purchase of 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition supply vehicles. The value of the contract, which was signed on the 9th of July, is around one billion dollars. The information that the contract between the South Korean manufacturer and the Romanian defense ministry for the purchase of the above-mentioned equipment is imminent emerged during the visit of South Korean defense minister Shin Won-sik to Romania in the second half of June. This was the first ever official visit to Romania by a South Korean defense minister. In addition to the head of the defense ministry, the delegation included the head of South Korea's state armaments agency DAPA, which demonstrates South Korea's enormous interest in succeeding in the Romanian market.
As stated by the manufacturer of K9 howitzers and K10 ammunition supply vehicles, deliveries of the ordered equipment will be carried out over the next five years, with the first delivery expected in early 2027. As further stated by the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace, most of the military equipment procured will be manufactured in Romania, with a significant share of the Romanian defense industry. Romania will thus become the sixth NATO country to have South Korean K9 howitzers in its arsenal in the coming years.
In addition to howitzers and ammunition supply vehicles, Hanwha Aerospace is also planning to participate in the modernization of Romania's fleet of infantry fighting vehicles, according to recent reports. As Army Recognition reports, the South Korean company is offering Romania the AS21 Redback fighting vehicles, with which it was successful in the Australian LAND 400 Phase 3 program last year. The AS21 Redback vehicle was already presented by the South Korean manufacturer at the BSDA 2024 Exhibition and Conference in May. Interestingly, this was the first participation for Hanwha Aerospace in a trade fair in the Black Sea region. If successful, this would be another significant step up in defense cooperation between South Korea and Romania, as Romania plans to procure 246 new infantry fighting vehicles worth over €2.5 billion by 2031.
In addition to Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem also has its sights set on success in Romania. Indeed, Romania recently expressed interest in acquiring 300 to 500 hundred K2 Black Panther tanks. Romania's interest stems from successful trials of this tank on Romanian territory. According to several media reports, one of the reasons why Romania is considering buying K2 Black Panther tanks, besides the successful tests, is the positive reference to these tanks from Poland, which has ordered 1,000 of them and 800 of them will be produced directly in Poland.
