The Republic of Korea’s Hanwha Defense has successfully secured competitive defense contracts to supply its K9 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer and often its accompanying K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ASV) to Poland, Turkey, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Australia, and India.
The company is clearly enhancing its visibility and further reinforce its credentials as a world-class combat system developer, technology innovator, and manufacturer by its substantial presence at the Association of the US Army Exposition in Washington DC 10-12 October 2022.
Most impressively is its upfront display of both the latest update of the K9A2 Thunder and its K10 ASV. The focus of these vehicles together operating closely integrated as a combat fire support team is one of the factors that contribute to the battlefield effectiveness and are what have attracted so many international militaries. Just as the K9 employs a longer 52 calibre barrel, on-board navigation and position, and automatic loading to offer rapidly responsive and more lethal supporting on-target fires so too does the K10 assure these are unfailingly possible.
A Hanwha America President John Kelly shared that “K9/K10 have just completed their successful demonstration of compatibility with various US munitions at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, in September. These live demonstrations were conducted under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Hanwha and US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC). The demonstration validated the feasibility, performance and capabilities of carrying and firing the US munitions and charges.”
The K9/K10 also showed its “Shoot and Scoot” capability, firing multiple rounds and moving to negate the threat of counter-battery fire. It also demonstrated its three rounds in 16 second burst firing and six rounds in 45 seconds firing rate. Even as the latest upgraded K9A2 and K10 AARV are being produced and are entering field service, Hanwha is moving forward in developing the next generation self-propelled howitzer system K9A3 with extended firing range and remote operation/driving.
by Stephen W. Miller
