K9 Thunder

K9 Thunder
K9 Thunder
	K9 Thunder
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	South Korea
Service history
In service	1999 - present
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Designer	Samsung Techwin,ADD
Designed	1989–1998
Manufacturer	Samsung Techwin
Unit cost	$3.1 million
Produced	1999–present
Variants	K10, T-155 'Firtina' (Storm)
Specifications
Mass	47 tonnes (K9)
Length	12 m
Width	3.4 m
Height	2.73 m
Crew	5 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2 Loaders)
Maximum firing range	30,000 m (HE); 38,000 m (DP-ICM base bleed); 41,600 m (Extended range full-bore-base); 52-56,000 m (BB+RAP extended range)
Main; armament	52 cal (155mm howitzer)
Secondary; armament	12.7 mm (.50 caliber) K6 HMG
Engine	MTU MT 881 Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel; 1000 hp
Power/weight	21 hp/ton
Transmission	S&T Dynamics X1100-5A3
Suspension	hydropneumatic
Operational; range	480 km
Maximum speed	67 km/h

The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled 155 mm howitzer developed by Samsung Techwin for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It was developed to supplement and then replace the K55 self-propelled howitzers in South Korean service. K9 howitzers operate in groups with the K10 automatic ammunition resupply vehicle.

History

The development program of this 155 mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer has been underway since 1989. In 1996 the first prototype of this new artillery system was tested. The contract for the new K9 artillery system was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries (SSA) by the Korean Government on 22 December 1998. Republic of Korea Army received its first batch of K9 in 1999.

The K9 was involved in the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong between North and South Korean artillery units on 23 November 2010.^[1]

General characteristics

K9 is an indigenous system of an all-welded steel armour construction which is rated to withstand 14.5 mm armour piercing rounds, 152 mm shell fragments, and anti-personnel mines.^[2] The main armament consists of a 155 mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km.^[3] State-of-the-art mobility subsystems include a 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) engine with potential for growth and hydropneumatic suspension unit, a requirement for Korea's rugged mountainous terrain.^[4]

It was designed to give the artillery arm of the Republic of Korea Army a significant improvement in capability. With a claimed range of 40 km, it offers greater mobility, longer range, higher rate of fire, and increased battlefield survivability, as it can quickly be brought into action, open fire, and come out of action. It is less likely to be engaged by counter-battery fire, by relying on shoot-and-scoot.^[5] The unit also supports full CBRN protection.^[2]

MRSI

The K9 has the ability to fire its shells in MRSI mode (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact). In the MRSI mode, the K9 is able to fire three shells in under 15 seconds — 1 shell every 5 seconds — each in different trajectories so that all of the shells will arrive on their target at the same time.^[3]

K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV)

The K10 is an automatic ammunition resupply vehicle built on the K9 platform, part of the K9 Thunder system. It shares the same chassis as K9, preserving K9's mobility, and can follow the main artillery battery without lagging behind.^[6] Maximum transfer rate of shells is 12 rounds per minute, and maximum load of shells is 104 rounds.^[7]

The reloading process is fully automated. The reloading is done through a munition bridge on the K10 that extends out to lock itself into a reception hole located at the rear of the K9. This allows the unit to rearm itself under harsh combat conditions without the crew having to expose themselves to the combat environment.^[8]

Operational History

The K9 Thunder saw the first combat during the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong on November 23, 2010. Six ROKMC howitzers engaged against the surprise attack from the North Korean artillery.^[9] Prior to the battle, the howitzers returned from a scheduled firing exercise, using most of the shells stored within the howitzer. In addition, one howitzer experienced a problem during the exercise that a shell became stuck in the barrel, disabling it. Two units received slight damage to their firing control systems during the initial North Korean attack, meaning only three out of the six units were able to counterattack. Eventually, the howitzer that had barrel problems joined the second counterattack after receiving field repairs. The K9s fought back in the ratio of shooting one shell every one minute and 30 seconds, because the marines had to carry the shells from the armory and manually load the howitzer under heavy fire after exhausting B/L rounds.^[10]^[11]

Export

The first country Samsung Techwin sold the K9 to was Turkey. Turkey received its first batch of the K9 and the license to domestically produce the system in 2004, in a deal that amounted to $1 billion.^[12] The domestic Turkish version was renamed as T-155 Firtina. Turkey is expected to field a force of 300 Firtinas by 2011. Samsung Techwin has also formed a venture on 29 March 2012 with Indian conglomerate Larsen and Toubro to supply the K9 for the Indian Army Howitzer competition.^[13]

The K9 was a contender for Phase 1C of Australia's Land 17 Artillery Replacement Program prior to that phase of the project being cancelled in May 2012.^[14]

In September 2015, Larsen and Toubro emerged as the finalist for a US$800million contract to supply 100 self-propelled howitzers to the Indian Army.^[15] The vehicle is the K9 VAJRA-T, a variant of the K9 specially designed for operation in the desert areas bordering Pakistan. India has not had any new artillery pieces since the 1980s and several rounds of modernization plans since 1999 had failed to select a gun. India has been at a distinct disadvantage against Pakistan in SPGs since the United States supplied them with 115 M109A5 cannons in 2009. The final process to sign the contract could take up to six more months.^[16]