Estonia takes delivery of the first K9 Kõu SPHs
/ Photo by: Estonian MoD
/ Photo by: Estonian MoD
/ Photo by: Estonian MoD
At the end of August 2020 the Estonian Armed Forces took delivery of the first two 155-mm K9 Kõu SPHs. Following testes and further modifications, these artillery systems will be operated by a sub-unit of the country’s 1st Infantry Brigade in Tapa. Within the next 3 years Estonia will receive all 18 K9 SPHs ordered from the South Korean Hanwha Defense.
The Estonian Minister of Defense, Jüri Luig, perceives procurement of K9 howitzers as a major step forward in the modernization of the country’s armed forces, eventually leading to significant enhance of their operational capabilities.
‘The process, which began two years ago, has now gone so far that we can begin to technically adjust the SPHs to fully meet our needs. This is one of the most important defense procurements of the Defense Forces in recent years, the aim of which is to strengthen, above all, indirect fire capabilities.’ said Luik.
‘K9 is a well-suited and modern weapon system suitable for Estonian conditions, which was introduced in South Korea already in 1999. This weapon system also fits well into the Estonian climate, because South Korea, like Estonia, has four seasons and large temperature differences’, added Lieutenant Colonel Kaarel Mäesalu, Commander of the Mobile Artillery Procurement Project.
Although the K9 SPHs, which have just arrived in Estonia, are operational ready, they will have to undergo additional modification, prior to entering service. These will include, among others, covering them with a special paint scheme. Following enhancements, they will be transferred to the artillery battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade
In total, Estonia will purchase 18 155mm K9 Kõu SPHs. Deliveries will run through to 2023. The contract with Hanwha Defense also includes training services for instructors, crews and maintenance personnel, as well as supply of special equipment and spare parts. It is expected that K9 Kõu SPHs will remain in service for at least 30 years.
Norway takes delivery of first K9 SPHs
/ Photo by: Norwegian MoD
/ Photo by: Norwegian MoD
/ Photo by: Norwegian MoD
In midst September the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Norway has taken delivery of the first batch of a dozen 155mm K9 SPHs and three K10 ammunition supply vehicles, as they were delivered to one of seaports in northern Norway onboard a Ro-Ro Kvitnos cargo vessel.
Shortly after their disembarkation, they were loaded on trailer trucks and transported to a storage facility. In the next couple of weeks K9 SPHs and K10 supply vehicles will undergo a series of tests, which will confirm their compliance with technical requirements of the Norwegian Army. Subsequently, a training period for crews and operational personnel should commence, preceding entering into operational service.
The formal takeover ceremony of the first K9 SPHs took place on 19th September 2019 in Changwon, South Korea. The event was hosted by the vehicle’s manufacturer, Hanwha Techwin.
On 20th December 2017 Norwegian arms procurement agency, Forsvarsmateriell (FMA) signed a contract with the Hanwha Defense for delivery of 24 155mm K9 SPHs and 6 K10 supply vehicles for $226.6 million. Deliveries are expected to conclude by 2021. The agreement has an option for additional 24 SPHs and an unspecified number of supply vehicles.
Finland enhances field artillery capabilities with K9 acquisition
/ Photo by: Finnish MoD
/ Photo by: Finnish MoD
/ Photo by: Finnish MoD
In February 2017 a €146 million contract was signed, authorizing the Finnish Defense Forces to procure 48 second-hand 155mm K9 SPHs from South Korean Army’s stocks.
The Operational Artillery acquisition project was carried out as part of the comprehensive field artillery modernization project launched in 2014. Its purpose is to replace the currently operated field artillery units, which should be phased out of service in the coming years, with new and more modern weapon systems.
The goal of the Finnish MoD was to select and implement a far-reaching and mobile artillery system that could effectively support the operations of the country’s land forces. New 155mm weapon systems should have a life cycle of at lead 30 years.
At the beginning of the Operational Artillery project, several different options were considered. A request for information (RFI) was sent about the project, to which responses were also received from different countries. In the tender phase (RFQ), it became clear that South Korea would be interested in offering Finland its own little-used K9 Thunder SPHs. The offer proved to be interesting, and eventually the Finnish armed forces conducted tests of the South Korean K9 howitzer in Rovajärvi in November 2016.
Following the tests, the Finnish Defence Forces suggested that Finland should procure surplus K9 SPHs from South Korean Army’s stocks. This should be complemented by forming a new unit type, namely, a heavy armoured howitzer battery.
Apart from the procurement of 155mm artillery systems, the Finnish land forces also required implementation of more modern and efficient fire control and command and control systems, as well as launching of a combat service supply and training programmes for K9 crews and maintenance personnel.
Poland – the major K9 operator in the region
/ Photo by: mjr Remigiusz Kwieciński/ Polish MoD
/ Photo by: st. szer. Wojciech Król/CO MON
/ Photo by: Paweł Ścibiorek
/ Photo by: kpt. Agnieszka Śmiechowska, Polish MoD
By 2024 the Polish Army should receive all of the 120 155mm Krab SPHs, delivered by the Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) company, which is a subsidiary of the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ).
The Krab SPH is based on the K9 Thunder chassis from South Korean company Hanwha Techwin fitted with the British BAE Systems AS90/52 Braveheart turret and a L52 155mm gun system, all built and assembled at HSW on a license.
In December 2014 HSW reached an agreement with Hanwha Techwin regarding licensed production of the K9 chassis in Poland. Under the terms of the agreement, the first 24 vehicles were built in South Korea and shipped to Poland.
The 2014 contract included a transfer of technology, under which, a batch of additional 12 K9s were delivered in modules to be assembled in Poland by HSW and the remaining 84 will be built entirely in the country.
Acquisition of 120 Krab SPHs will lead to the formation of five Regina artillery squadrons. Each squadron will be equipped with 24 howitzers. However, four of them will operate serial production Krabs, while the first one will field vehicles, which initially were fitted on a locally designed, faulty UPG-NG chassis from ZM Bumar-Labedy, another subsidiary of the PGZ. The UPG-NG chassis proved to be faulty, leading to a number of technical issues which prevented the Army from their further procurement and required selection of the replacement K9 chassis.
The first three serial production Regina squadrons should be formed by 2022 and the last one in 2023-2024.
Each Regina squadron will consist of 24 Krab SPHs as well as three command staff vehicles, eight command post vehicles, six ammunition supply vehicles and one mobile armament and electronics workshop vehicle.
The first serial production Krab SPHs were delivered to the Polish Army in March 2019. They were handed over to the 5th Artillery Regiment in Sulechow, western Poland, which is subordinate to the 12th Mechanized Division in Szczecin.
In late October 2020 another batch of 8 Krab SPHs and auxiliary vehicles were delivered to the Polish Army. New howitzers were handed over to the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, which is a subunit of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division.