On Thursday, February 12, 2026, Hanwha Aerospace Romania (part of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace) announced that a day earlier it had laid the cornerstone for the construction of a new armored vehicle production facility in Petrești, Dâmbovița County – marking an important milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to the country and in strengthening Europe’s defense industrial capacity.
Photo and image: Hanwha Aerospace
The Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) Europe production facility will be the South Korean company’s first such site on the European continent. Through this investment, the company is establishing long-term industrial cooperation with Romania, supporting Bucharest’s efforts to develop its domestic defense manufacturing base and to play a more active role in the European defense industrial ecosystem, while also contributing to broader NATO and European security objectives.
Distinguished Romanian guests included Marius-Gabriel Lazurca, Presidential Advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy; Barna Tánczos, Deputy Prime Minister; Ambrozie-Irineu Darău, Minister of Economy; and Corneliu Ștefan, President of the Dâmbovița County Council. Also in attendance was Yong-chul Lee, Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) at South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents more than the construction of a production facility. It is the foundation for Hanwha Aerospace Romania’s evolution into a truly Romanian defense company and a strategic platform for long-term defense cooperation between our two countries,” said Jae-il Son, President and CEO, Hanwha Aerospace. “This will be Hanwha Aerospace’s first production facility in Europe and will grow into a core production site for European land systems. Beyond manufacturing, we are committed to technology transfer and close local cooperation with the goal of integrating Romania as a key pillar of the global defense supply chain.”
Dzisiejsze wmurowanie kamienia węgielnego to coś więcej niż budowa zakładu produkcyjnego. To fundament pod rozwój Hanwha Aerospace Romania w prawdziwie rumuńską firmę obronną i strategiczną platformę długoterminowej współpracy obronnej między naszymi dwoma krajami – powiedział Jae-il Son, prezes i dyrektor generalny Hanwha Aerospace. Będzie to pierwszy zakład produkcyjny Hanwha Aerospace w Europie, który stanie się kluczowym ośrodkiem produkcyjnym europejskich systemów lądowych. Poza produkcją, angażujemy się w transfer technologii i ścisłą współpracę lokalną, dążąc do integracji Rumunii jako kluczowego filaru globalnego łańcucha dostaw obronnych.
Strategic Industrial Reach for Romania and Europe
The facility, located in Petrești, Dâmbovița County, will cover approximately 181,055 square meters and will feature advanced assembly lines, performance and validation testing equipment, a 1,751-meter test track, and dedicated research and development laboratories. These capabilities will support the full life cycle of land systems, including development, production, and sustainment.
H-ACE Europe will initially support local production of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K10 ammunition resupply and support vehicle, providing assembly, integration, testing, and life-cycle support. The goal is to achieve a high level of localization, ultimately up to 80% through the involvement of Romanian industry.
In line with Hanwha Aerospace’s long-term vision, the facility has the potential to expand in the future to support additional advanced land systems, such as infantry fighting vehicles, long-range precision strike systems, and multi-role unmanned ground vehicles, contributing to local job creation, strengthening Romania’s industrial base, and enhancing the defense capabilities of the country and its allies.
Hanwha Aerospace Romania estimates that a potential expansion of the facility in connection with an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) program could create up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, delivering significant economic benefits to Romania.
Beyond manufacturing, Hanwha Aerospace Romania is committed to close cooperation with Romanian industrial partners to integrate them into its global supply chain, supporting skills development, technology transfer, and long-term employment. The company is currently working with more than 30 Romanian partners, laying the foundation for expanded industrial cooperation under its long-term localization strategy.
“Hanwha Aerospace is committed to working alongside Romania so that it can grow not only as a buyer, but as a producer, seller, and exporter within the global defense market. ‘Made in Romania’ will be at the heart of our approach.” said Son.
A similar H-ACE facility was established in Geelong, near Avalon in the state of Victoria, Australia, to support production of the AS9 Huntsman howitzers along with AS10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles and the AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles selected by Australia.
It is worth recalling that on July 9, 2024, Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract worth approximately 1 billion USD with Romania’s Ministry of National Defense for the delivery of 54 K9 Thunder 155 mm/L52 self-propelled howitzers along with 36 K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027, initially from South Korea, with the majority of subsequent vehicles to be produced locally (with completion scheduled within five years).
Earlier, on February 6, 2023, Hanwha Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Romania’s Ministry of Economy and the state-owned company Compania Nationala Romarm regarding the potential production of weapons and ammunition. The agreement provides for the possible licensed production in Romania of K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems, K21 or AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles, K9 howitzers, and explosives.
It is also worth noting that another South Korean company, Hyundai Rotem Company, has offered Romania the K2 Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) main battle tank.