Nicknamed "Thunder", the K9 artillery has become arguably the most established and iconic self-propelled howitzer in the world.
This type of artillery was developed by the Defense Development Agency and South Korea's Hanwha Defense Agency in 1998. The 155 mm/52 caliber howitzer was put into service in 1999.
K9 was designed primarily to meet the tactical concept of "Shoot Scoot". In layman's terms, Shoot Scoot means the gun moves into a firing position, completes the shooting mission, and then leaves the firing position before the enemy can counterattack.
html The 147-ton K9 has a range of over 40 kilometers using conventional 155 ammunition and it can move at speeds of up to 67 kilometers per hour. Equipped with an automatic fire control system, the howitzer can fire within 30 seconds from a stationary position and within 60 seconds while moving. A three-round burst can be achieved in less than 15 seconds, with a maximum rate of fire of 6 to 8 rounds per minute for 3 minutes.
K9A1 is an improved version that has been in service with the Korean Army since 2018. The K9A1 is equipped with the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), which allows the vehicle to operate and fire without the main engine running, saving valuable engine time. The use of the APU also means the crew can operate without being affected by engine noise. operate under the circumstances.
K9A1 Other modifications include a driver's night periscope with a forward-looking infrared camera that can be viewed from a monitor, and a rear-view camera to help ensure crew safety.
K9 is by far the most popular artillery among self-propelled howitzers in the world, with a market share of approximately 53%. Nearly 1,700 K9s are in service in multiple countries, including South Korea, Turkey, Poland, India, Finland, Norway and Estonia.
