Romania could have 54 self-propelled howitzers produced in South Korea

Romania could have 54 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, produced in South Korea, the manufacturing company Hanwha being the only one that remained in the tender opened by the National Defence Ministry (MApN), and negotiations in this regard continue with the Romanian Government.The maximum range (of the K9 howitzer) is 54 kilometers, it is very fast, said Heo Man Jung, a senior artillery researcher at Hanwha, in a meeting with Romanian journalists. He said that in 2010 this howitzer was used in moments of maximum tension in his country.We responded very quickly when we were attacked by North Korea, he added. Heo Man Jung also highlighted the mobility of the howitzer, which reaches a speed of over 67 kilometres per hour, and the fact that the structure of the vehicle protects the military inside very well. Furthermore, Heo Man Jung said, the K9 was designed to operate in any climate.Last summer, the MApN requested three 155 mm calibre battalion-level howitzer systems, 17,352 explosive projectiles, 324 smoke projectiles, 324 illumination projectiles and 720 inert projectiles (for training).The duration of the contract of more than 850 million euros is 60 months and the funds come from the state budget, according to the announcement at the time.A howitzer system is composed of: 18 self-propelled 155 mm calibre howitzers on rails, nine reserve gun barrels, 12 specialised ammunition transport and loading machines, nine self-propelled artillery observation posts, a meteorological station vehicle, three means of evacuating damaged equipment and three acoustic survey systems. To these components are added the associated missiles.South Korean company representatives say in a press release that they intend to open an industrial line in Romania, in order to contribute to the defence capabilities of the Land Forces and to the development of the military industry.The K 9 Thunder howitzers are operated in nine countries around the world, including five NATO countries: Poland, Norway, Estonia, Finland and Turkey.This Monday, President Klaus Iohannis began his official visit to the Republic of Korea, at the invitation of his counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol. In this context, several memoranda will be signed in the areas of defence, energy and cooperation in emergency situations.The official delegation accompanying the president of Romania to Seoul also includes members of the Romanian Government - National Defence Minister Angel Tilvar, Foreign Affairs Minister Luminita Odobescu, Energy Sebastian Minister Burduja and head of the Department for Emergency Situations Raed Arafat.On the occasion of the visit, the "Joint Declaration on strengthening the Romania - Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership" will be adopted at the highest level, a document that will set out the main directions of cooperation aimed at by both countries for the next 10 years."The intensification of political and diplomatic contacts between the two countries, the positive trend of bilateral trade exchanges, as well as the multitude of areas in which there is potential and mutual interest in collaboration are the main premises that underlie the decision to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the Republic of Korea, on the occasion of the official visit to Seoul, the first at the level of head of state in the last 16 years," the Presidential Administration said when announcing the visit.On Tuesday, Klaus Iohannis will be welcomed by his counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol. The political consultations between the two heads of state will focus on strengthening the Strategic Partnership, political-diplomatic and defence cooperation, key regional and global challenges, and boosting sectoral areas, with a focus on increasing trade and investment in green and nuclear energy, new technologies, IT&C, environment and climate change management, infrastructure, health, education and other new areas. It will also highlight the special link that human-to-human and cultural exchanges, which have grown remarkably in recent years, represent for the two countries.In the presence of the president of Romania and the president of the Republic of Korea, a series of documents relevant to the strengthening of bilateral relations will be signed, covering: defence, nuclear energy, investment and foreign trade, cooperation in emergency situations and disaster management, cooperation in culture, media, youth and sports.During his official visit to the Republic of Korea, the president of Romania will meet with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, to discuss the main objectives of the bilateral economic relationship and to evaluate the results of the 10th Joint Committee for Industrial Cooperation (Seoul, 25 March 2024).On the occasion of his official visit to the Republic of Korea, Iohannis will meet with representatives of the Romanian community and business environment and will visit the Romanian traditional art exhibition "Insight Romania."On Wednesday, the head of state will visit the Doosan Enerbility Production Complex, Changwon, (Busan), where he will hold a series of discussions with key stakeholders on new challenges and opportunities in the area of renewable energy and small modular reactors (SMR).The Republic of Korea is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region with which Romania has upgraded its relations to a Strategic Partnership, signed in 2008.