K9 Thunder
Type: Self-Propelled Howitzer
Domain: land
Country of Origin: South Korea
Manufacturer: Hanwha Defense
First Deployed: 2023
Overview
Poland contracted for 672 K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers from Hanwha Defense in August 2022 — the largest-ever K9 export order. Deliveries include South Korean-built systems and a production line at HSW Stalowa Wola for the K9PL (Poland) variant. The K9A1 is the upgraded variant featuring an auto-layer, improved fire control, and reliability improvements over baseline K9. Rate of fire is 6 rounds/minute sustained (burst: 3 rounds in 15 seconds). Range: 40+ km standard, 50+ km with extended-range munitions. The 672-unit fleet will be Poland's primary artillery backbone, alongside the Krab and HIMARS systems.
Technical Specifications
| Crew | 5 |
|---|---|
| Type | 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer |
| Range | 480 km |
| Engine | MTU MB 871 Ka-501 diesel (1,000 hp) |
| Weight | 47,000 kg |
| Max Range | 40 km (standard) / 56 km (Excalibur guided) |
| Max Speed | 67 km/h |
| Autoloader | Semi-automatic |
| Rate of Fire | 6-8 rounds/min burst; 3 rpm sustained |
| Main Armament | 155mm/52 caliber gun |
Operators
- Australia
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- India
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- South Korea
- Türkiye
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