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| K9 Thunder | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Self-propelled howitzer |
| Place of origin | South Korea |
| Service history | |
| In service | K9: 1999–present K9A1: 2018–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer |
|
| Designed | 1989–1998 |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Unit cost | 4 billion KRW (ROK Armed Forces, 2021)[1] |
| Produced | K9: 1998–2018 K9A1: 2018–present |
| No. built | 1,800 (2024) |
| Variants | See variants and upgrades |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | K9 & K9A1: 47 t (46 long tons; 52 short tons), combat[2] K9A2: 48.5 t (47.7 long tons; 53.5 short tons), combat, with metal track[3] |
| Length | Overall: 12 m (39 ft 4 in) Hull: 7.44 m (24 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) |
| Crew | K9 & K9A1: 5 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2 Loaders) K9A2: 3 (Commander, Driver, Gunner) |
| Maximum firing range | 18 km (M107, HE) 30 km (M549A1, RAP/HE) 36 km (K310, BB/DP-ICM) 41 km (K307, BB/HE) 60 km (K315, LAP/HE) |
| Armour | POSCO MIL-12560H armor steel (South Korean produced variants only, after 2022) Bisalloy Steel armor steel (foreign licensed variants, after 2022) |
Main armament | Hyundai WIA CN98 155 mm 52 caliber, 48 rounds |
Secondary armament | SNT Dynamics K6 12.7x99 mm NATO HMG |
| Engine | STX Engine/MTU Friedrichshafen MT881Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine 735 kW (1,000 hp) @ 2,700 rpm STX Engine SMV1000 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine 735 kW (1,000 hp) @ 2,700 rpm (available since 2024) |
| Power/weight | 21.3 hp/t (15.88 kW/t) |
| Transmission | SNT Dynamics/Allison Transmission X1100-5A3 4 forward, 2 reverse |
| Suspension | Mottrol/Horstman Hydropneumatic Suspension Unit (HSU) Travel distance: ≤ 275 mm Dead weight: 40–45 kN |
| Ground clearance | 410 mm (16 in) longitudinal slope: 60 % lateral slope: 30 % vertical: 0.75 m trench: 2.8 m fording: 1.5 m |
| Fuel capacity | 850 L (225 U.S. gal) |
Operational range | 360 km (220 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 67 km/h (42 mph) |
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and private corporations including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aerospace Industries for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and is now manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace.[2] K9 howitzers operate in groups with the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle variant.[4][5]
The entire K9 fleet operated by the ROK Armed Forces is now undergoing upgrades to K9A1, and a further upgrade variant K9A2 is being tested for production. As of 2022, the K9 series has had a 52% share of the global self-propelled howitzer market, including wheeled vehicles, since the year 2000.[4][5]
- ^ [46회 무삭제 확장판] 세계 자주포 시장을 석권하다, K-9 자주포 ㅣ 뉴스멘터리 전쟁과 사람 / YTN2 (in Korean). YTN. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Hanwha Defense K9 Self-propelled Howitzer". Hanwha Defense. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ 자주포 K9, 미국 자주포 사거리 연장 사업까지 가능할까...?!ㅣK-방산 팩트체크 5편 [프파S], 8 November 2022, retrieved 5 December 2022
- ^ a b Kim Minseok (6 March 2022). 8년전 우크라 때리자 꽂혔다...세계최강 K9자주포 진화 이유 [김민석 배틀그라운드]. JoongAng Ilbo. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b 한화그룹, 대우조선해양 인수로 국내 유일 육·해·공 전문 방산기업으로 '우뚝'. 뉴스투데이 (in Korean). Retrieved 28 September 2022.