On Monday, March 24, 2025, the 15th Giżycko Mechanized Brigade, named after Zawisza Czarny, announced via social media that it had received its first batch of K9A1 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzers, manufactured by the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace. These systems will replace the post-Soviet 122mm 2S1 Goździk. (Further Polish-Korean talks at the Ministry of National Defense are ongoing)
Photo: SSWO Mariusz Kraśnicki, 15th Giżycko Mechanized Brigade
No details of the delivery were disclosed, but four howitzers can be counted in the accompanying photos. They will be assigned to the self-propelled artillery battalion stationed in Orzysz. Earlier, on February 21 of this year, the first 2025 batch of eight K9A1 howitzers from the Republic of Korea arrived in Poland, bringing the total number of these systems to 144 units.
Since last year, the rearmament of the 1st Mechanized Battalion in Orzysz was also expected to begin, involving the replacement of PT-91 Twardy tanks with K2GF Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) tanks. These tanks have so far been delivered to two battalions within the 20th Bartoszyce Mechanized Brigade and the 9th Braniewo Armored Cavalry Brigade, as well as to the Land Forces Training Center – Poznań. Previously, 120mm M120K Rak self-propelled mortars were also delivered to the unit.
Deliveries of the K9A1 Thunder howitzers are being carried out under the contract signed on August 26, 2022, worth 2.4 billion USD net (11.38 billion PLN net / 13.99 billion PLN gross), concluded with Hanwha Defense (now Hanwha Aerospace). Under this agreement, a total of 212 K9A1 howitzers are to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.
On December 1, 2023, the Polish Armament Agency signed a second contract worth 2.6 billion USD net (10.33 billion PLN net / 12.81 billion PLN gross) for the delivery of an additional six K9A1 howitzers in 2025, as well as 146 K9PL howitzers in 2026–2027. On December 2, 2024, the Ministry of National Defense announced the start of implementation of this order.
On December 23, 2024, the ministry signed a contract worth nearly 8 billion PLN with Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), for the delivery of over 250 support vehicles for the K9 self-propelled howitzers.
In October 2024, soldiers from the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade, along with K9A1 Thunder howitzers, took part in the Akktuli-24 exercise held in Estonia. It was the first foreign deployment of these systems.
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled howitzer mounted on a tracked chassis. Its primary armament is a 155mm gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers, capable of delivering precise fire at ranges exceeding 40 km, depending on the type of ammunition used. The K9 is armored to protect against small arms fire and artillery shell fragments. It is powered by a 1,000 hp diesel engine paired with an automatic transmission, providing high speed and mobility across various terrains. The howitzer weighs 47 tons. The K9A1 variant features a range of upgrades, with a focus on increasing firing effectiveness and range to 54 km, improving situational awareness, and enhancing crew comfort.
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