TSAMTO, October 20. Hanwha Defense announced on October 19 that the first batch of 24 155-mm self-propelled howitzers K9A1 "Thunder" was rolled out and then sent to Poland.
The delivery is carried out within the framework of an executive contract signed in mid-August with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.
The ceremony took place at the Hanwha Defense enterprise in Changwon (300 km southeast of Seoul). During the event, all 24 SG K9s were demonstrated. All modern military equipment produced by Hanwha Defense was built separately, including the K10 ammunition replenishment vehicle, the K77 fire control vehicle, the K21 infantry fighting vehicle, the KAAV amphibious assault vehicle, and the Arion-SMET ground remote-controlled vehicle. Guided missiles, engines and other equipment were also demonstrated.
The delivery of 24 K9 howitzers was made less than two months after the signing of the executive contract. Earlier, South Korean media reported that it is planned to accelerate the delivery by transferring to the Polish Armed Forces 12 howitzers assembled for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea and 36 restored installations from the Armed Forces of the country.
It is assumed that the first batch of howitzers will enter service with the 11th Masurian Artillery Regiment of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division of the Polish Armed Forces, stationed in Wengozhevo.
As reported by TSAMTO, on August 26, the Arms Agency of the Polish Ministry of Defense concluded a contract worth $2.4 billion with the South Korean company Hanwha Defense for the supply of a total of 212 K9 self-propelled howitzers in the K9A1 version during 2022-2026. The first 24 installations are to be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces in 2022. The contract also includes a training package, logistics and a significant batch of ammunition (tens of thousands of 155 mm ammunition of various types). The logistics package will include a set of spare parts and consumables, as well as equipment for servicing howitzers. The contractor will also provide maintenance of equipment in Poland from the moment of delivery of the first howitzers. The training package includes training equipment and training of personnel in Poland.
The framework agreement signed in July 2022 with Hanwha Defense provides for the possibility of acquiring a total of 672 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers and its polonized version K9PL (based on ready-made technologies obtained as a result of work on K9A2 howitzers), as well as special equipment, including transport-loading vehicles (TZM) K10 and K11 control machines, training and logistics packages, ammunition and technical support of the manufacturer.
K9 "Thunder" is a South Korean tracked self-propelled howitzer. The main armament is a 155–mm 52-caliber cannon, which, depending on the type of ammunition, ensures the destruction of targets at ranges over 40 km. The weight of the howitzer is 47 tons . Auxiliary armament – 12.7 mm machine gun. The K9 armor provides protection from shell fragments and small arms fire. A 1000 hp diesel engine and an automatic transmission provide high speed and mobility on any terrain. A number of improvements have been made to the K9A1 version. The main emphasis was placed on increasing the efficiency and firing range up to 54 km, improving situational awareness and improving the comfort of the crew.
The K9A1 howitzers contracted as part of the first stage will initially be equipped with Polish communication systems, the TOPAZ combat control system, and at the next stage they will receive inertial navigation systems identical to those used in the Crab self-propelled howitzers.
Currently, more than 1,700 K9 howitzers are in service with nine countries around the world.
