Hello everyone, welcome back to Defense TV. In this episode we will discuss Why The South
Korean K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer has become so popular around the world?
To get more details on this topic, stay tuned and keep watching this video till the end!
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer designed
and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and Samsung Aerospace Industries
for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and is now manufactured by Hanwha Defense.
The design of the South Korean self-propelled howitzer lasted for a period of nine years:
1989 – 1998. The first version of the K9 Thunder entered combat service
and duty in the Republic of South Korea in 1999.
19 years later, in 2018, the Republic of South Korea upgraded its self-propelled howitzer
to the K9A1 Thunder level and the same year began replacing the existing K9 Thunder.
Today, the K9 Thunder is one of South Korea’s most popular artillery weapon systems available for
trade-in international markets. There are already 9 countries using this artillery service, the
latest announced new contracts are from Australia and Egypt. In the future, the UK may also want to
replace the UK AS90 with the K9A2 variant. Currently, the K9 is the latest generation
of 155mm self-propelled howitzer based on tracked armored chassis.
In fact, only Russia has developed a new howitzer in the 2000s, called the 2S35 but using a 152mm
cannon. In Europe, defense companies have chosen to develop howitzers based on truck chassis
according to the needs of European armies. However, in the United States, the M109 is one
of the most popular tracked howitzer in service in the world and was introduced in the 60s.
Of course, during these last few years, it was modernized to the M109A7 version
which is in service with the American army. The K9 entered in service with the South
Korean armed forces in 1999, so it is the newest howitzer in its class. Today, the K9
represents 50% of the global tracked howitzer military market and is now in service with
seven countries including South Korea, Turkey, Poland, India, Finland, Norway, and Estonia.
In December 2021, Hanwha Defense has announced a contract for the delivery of K9 howitzer to
Australia. And in early February of this year, Hanwha Defense has signed a very important
deal to export its K9 self-propelled howitzers and other artillery support vehicles to Egypt.
According to Hanwha Defense, the K9 was developed and designed based on the latest South Korean
defense technologies, and today, the K9 Thunder is the world’s most advanced self-propelled howitzer.
it is equipped with a Modular Azimuth Position System, an automatic fire-control system,
a powered gun elevation/depression and a turret traverse system.
Now. let's take a look at the K9 howitzer armament The main weapon of this howitzer is the Hyundai
WIA CN98 155 mm 52 caliber. It has a burst rate of fire of three rounds per 15 seconds
and a maximum rate of fire of six to eight rounds a minute for three minutes.
Sustained rate of fire is two to three rounds a minute for one hour.
The K9 Thunder is designed to meet the up-to-date tactical concept on shoot and scoot.
The gun can fire a standard M107 high-explosive projectile for a maximum range of 18km.
While the maximum range firing the High Explosive rocket assisted projectile with
uni-charge of five zones is 30km. It can also fire a K307 projectile
with a modular-charge of six zones for a maximum range of over 40km. (-image-)
About its fire control, the gun’s firing is controlled by onboard fire-control equipment.
The information can be transmitted through a data digital radio link or voice communications. The
automatic loading system places the projectiles onto the ammunition tray ready for fire.
The K9 Thunder can open fire within 30 seconds at stand out position or within 60 seconds during
movement. Additionally, the K9A1 upgrade has the automatic fire control system that includes
text-based DOS system, graphical windows system, electronic time data loader, and digital map.
Furthermore, the K9 Thunder’s welded steel construction protects crew and on-board equipment
against the 155mm shell fragments, 14.5mm armour piercing shells and anti-personnel mines.
The air purification system and on-board crew gas masks are provided for Nuclear,
Biological, and Chemical warfare. The K9 howitzer also works with the
world's first fully automated re-supply vehicle K10 ARV. It is a fully tracked
vehicle that follows the main artillery battery. The K10 ARV can automatically transfer 12 rounds
per minute through a conveyor belt. This avoids the exposure of crew to the combat environment.
Each K10 supports two K9 guns and can carry 104 rounds of ammunition.
In terms of engine and its mobility, the K9 Thunder is powered by an MTU MT 881 Ka-500
8-cylinder water cooled diesel engine coupled to the Allison ATDX1100-5A3 transmission.
The engine develops a power output of 1,000hp with a power-to-weight ratio of 21.6hp/t.
The auxiliary power unit in the improved K9A1 variant can provide up to 10.7hp of additional
power. The propulsion system provides a top speed of over 67km/h and a cruising range of 360km.
Laslty let’s talk about the upgraded version of K9A1 and K9A2
The K9A1 variant is equipped with improvements such as automatic fire control system,
driver’s night periscope, and auxiliary power system for enhanced efficiency. The improved
K9A1 provides increased range, fast fire rate, and higher mobility during day and night times.
Hanwha proposed the K9A2, an advanced variant of the K9 Howitzer, for the UK’s Mobile Fire
Platform program that is aimed at upgrading artillery capabilities of the British Army.
The K9A2 is expected to enhance the firing rate,
automatic ammunition loading, and other capabilities of the artillery. The advanced
variant is being tested. The development program is being implemented by Hanwha Defense and the
Korean government-owned research and development institution, Agency for Defense Development.
The proposed solution for the UK program will feature mine protection kits, unmanned turret,
and composite rubber tracks. Hanwha’s robotic K10 ammunition resupply vehicle
will also be integrated to provide an automated resupply capability.
Anyway, if you like this video, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button
for more updates on awesome videos! Thanks for watching and see you next time!