The Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers have become the unofficial frontrunners in the new Romanian program to purchase self-propelled howitzers for its armed forces.

The Romanian media Defense Romania reported this.

The procurement program for 155-mm self-propelled howitzers on a tracked chassis is scheduled to start this year. Its total value is estimated at almost $2 billion. With these funds, the Romanians plan to obtain five howitzer divisions of 155-mm self-propelled howitzers.

The program will be implemented in two stages, the first of which will be launched in 2023 and last for 6 years. It covers the acquisition of three artillery divisions, including ammunition, logistics, and special equipment for training.

The estimated contract value at the first stage is $1.158 billion.

According to the media’s sources, each division will consist of 18 howitzers. Therefore, the procurement, which will start in 2023, will involve the purchase of 54 combat vehicles.

There is no information yet on how the contract will be awarded (direct intergovernmental procurement procedure or tender) or on the level of industrial cooperation.

Defense cooperation

At the end of last year, Militarnyi reported on the visit of the large government delegation from Romania, headed by the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Defense and Economy, to South Korea.

It was reported that at that meeting, the purchase of weapons and the development of the Romanian defense industry were discussed. South Korean 155-mm K9 Thunder howitzers were one of the topics covered by the dialogue.

Already in March of this year, Florin Spătaru, Minister of Economy of Romania, who oversees the country’s defense industry, announced the memorandum signed in early February with the South Korean company Hanwha Defense on developing a partnership to deploy production facilities for the production of K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers.

“We are still discussing the production of the K9 self-propelled howitzers with the Romanian Ministry of Defense, but the decision-making process at the Ministry of Defense takes time. I will meet with the Minister, and we will see what the state of the assessments is,” the Minister of Economy shared at the time.

The memorandum does not have legal force, but it is the first step toward a future contract agreement to produce ground-based weapons systems in South Korea.

In addition, in March of this year, the Romanian government announced the construction of a new plant in cooperation with South Korea to produce gunpowder for ammunition.