Romania’s ROMARM to cooperate with Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems on artillery systems production

Europe, Middle East, News December 2, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Romanian national defense firm CN ROMARM S.A to cooperate with Israel’s Elbit Systems on the establishment of an artillery production center in Romania. CN ROMARM S.A would collaborate with Elbit Systems through its subsidiary S Uzina Automecanica Moreni S.A. (UAM).

The defense firm announced that the cooperation agreement would enable Romania’s artillery production. Besides Elbit Systems and ROMARM, several local companies from Romania will work together to establish a Romanian Artillery Center.

The cooperation agreement includes the production of Elbit Systems’ 155mm ATMOS Advanced Mobile Howitzers as well as the transfer of expertise for the manufacturing, production, assembly, and integration of the ATMOS howitzers.

The agreement would “enhance the domestic industrial base, generate additional employment opportunities, and establish a strong foundation for sovereign artillery production in Romania,” according to the Elbit Systems statement.

“ROMARM and UAM will operate as the system integrator, with more than 50% of the total workshare. Moreni will also serve as a long-term local support and maintenance provider for the ATMOS Howitzers,” the statement added.

Elbit Systems Land General Manager Udi Vered said that the defense firm is a global leader in artillery gun systems and its heavy turrets have proven its business model through its 25-year commitment to the Romanian market.

Udi Vered highlighted that the company’s battle-proven solution can be further developed with ROMARM through UAM production capabilities and transform Romania into our artillery hub for the region. “By working together with ROMARM, we aim to position ourselves as a strategic supplier not only to the Romanian Land Forces, but also to the entire European market,” he added.

Elbit Systems 155mm ATMOS howitzer — *^{Elbit Systems 155mm ATMOS self-propelled advanced mobile howitzer. (Image Credit: Elbit Systems)}*

Romania’s Uzina Automecanica Moreni S.A. (UAM) General Manager, Corneliu Vişoianu said, “As National Centre for Maintenance, UAM is looking at extending its list of products and new technologies in order to answer for the new challenges that the region is facing. In this respect, production of ATMOS Advanced Mobile Howitzers with ELBIT Systems is a great opportunity.”

The success of the collaboration between ROMARM and Elbit Systems would create new job prospects in Romania, driven by the increasing need for 155mm Howitzers from the Romanian military and various NATO and EU nations.

Elbit Systems is an advanced defense company that specializes in land and weapons systems, with expertise in the design, development, manufacturing, and integration of Artillery Howitzer Gun Systems, Mortar Systems, Remote-Controlled Weapon Systems (RCWS), manned and unmanned turrets, tanks and combat vehicles upgrade and modernization. The defense firm also offers a comprehensive range of high-performance precision ammunition, rocket solutions, and combat mobility, survivability, and protection systems.

For decades, Elbit Systems has been actively engaged in Romania, owning two local defense firms, ELMET, the largest defense exporter in Romania, and Simultec, a company specializing in training and simulators.