On 3 September the Department of Defence announced it is releasing a request for tender to Hanwha Defense Australia under its Protected Mobile Fires Project for 30 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and 15 K10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles.
Australia’s system is named Huntsmen and will be built in Hanwha’s Geelong Australia facility.
The K9 is a 155 mm/52 caliber with a maximum range of 30 km with conventional and 40 km with RAP rocket assisted projectiles. It uses an automatic loading system with in the vehicle as well as for replenishing from the resupply vehicle. Its state-of-the-art navigation/positioning and Kongsberg digital fire control system allow for firing within 60 seconds from receiving a call for fire when deploying from movement or 30 seconds when already in place.
The system is already in service with Finland, Norway, Estonia, India, and Turkey.
