Business Forum • 31 March, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Hanwha Aerospace Romania has presented an industrial package worth €1.3 billion aimed at strengthening Romania's defence capabilities and positioning the country as a production and innovation centre in the European defence industry.
The package is structured on two pillars: direct industrial investments and long-term investments in technology and capabilities. The programme is estimated to generate €14.4 billion in total economic value, supporting over 9,400 direct and indirect jobs in the next decade, mainly related to production of K9 self-propelled howitzers, K10 ammunition resupply vehicles and potentially Redback infantry fighting vehicles.
"We are here to support Romania's national interest, strengthen security, develop the defence industry and generate long-term economic value," said Lino Lim, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Romania.
The direct investment component focuses on developing domestic production capacity, including infrastructure, manufacturing facilities and integrated technology transfer to create defence industrial capacity in Romania. This includes establishing integrated production and testing facilities, supported by local engineering capacity and industrial know-how. A "Made in Romania" drone programme will be initiated, an industrial hub for unmanned ground vehicles will be established, and medium and long-range missile production will be localised through structured technology transfer and joint venture partnerships.
The second pillar targets long-term investments in technology and capabilities, focusing on research and development, future systems and innovation. Key areas include sovereign ISR and early warning capabilities, satellite ISR solutions and artificial intelligence, autonomous systems for maritime mine countermeasures, and research and development in missiles and future capabilities.