T-155 Fırtına

T-155 Fırtına (Turkish for Storm) is a Turkish variant of K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer originally developed by South Korea. It is manufactured and assembled by Turkish Land Forces at the 1010th Army Equipment Repair Factory using imported subsystems from Korea. It has an ongoing upgrade project dubbed as T-155 Fırtına II, possibly changing its engine to Turkish origin to avoid Germany's restriction on Turkey's defense sales.
Development
General characteristics
The T-155 retains most of the K9's features, such as the CN98 155 mm barrel and chassis, produced through the technology transfer of Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in South Korea. However, its turret reflects original Turkish design that increases magazine capacity from 24 to 30 while decreasing hull ammunition storage from 24 to 18. APU (auxiliary power unit) is installed while commander's panoramic sight is removed. Parts of the chassis, the INS (inertial navigation system), and electronic systems such as the radio and FCS (fire control system) were developed in Turkey. Inertial Navigation system was produced by ASELSAN.
The howitzer is able to determine the coordinates of the targets at 17.5 meters deviation. Fırtına can open fire within 30 seconds.
The T-155 Fırtına has a maximum firing range of 40 km, depending on the type of ammunition. It can reach a top speed of 65 km/h.
The gun is produced by MKEK under license by transferring the production technology of the K9's CN98 155 mm barrel from ADD. The production rate of the T-155 is 24 units per year. More than 350 T-155 Fırtına howitzers were planned to be produced. 281 have been delivered between 2005 and 2010.
Operational history
The T-155 Fırtına was first deployed in Turkey's Operation Sun at the end of 2007 into January 2008 to fight the PKK militants in the northern part of Iraq. It was used in 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes and again during both the Jarabulus offensive (2016) and the Afrin offensive (2018).
Poyraz Ammunition Resupply Vehicle
The Poyraz Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV) is an indigenous vehicle with an ammunition transfer system similar to that of the South Korean K10 ARV. The vehicle has a boom that is extended towards the rear of the T-155 Fırtına turret, where the resupply takes place. The Poyraz ARV has an auxiliary power unit, which the K10 ARV lacks, that allows the vehicle's crew to use electronics and communication systems, and to run an ammunition transfer system economically without the main engines being turned on.
The Poyraz ARV can carry up to 96 155 mm shells and is able to transfer 48 shells in 20 minutes. It has a range of 360 km.
Fırtına 2
The new generation model dubbed "Firtina 2" was to begin production in 2017, featuring improvement to range and rate of fire. The new vehicles were to be fitted with remote weapons stations capable of carrying 12.7mm, 7.62mm machine guns and 40 mm grenade launchers.
Fırtına 2 upgrade features:
Enhanced fire control system (FCS).
Autoloader.
Driver's vision.
Automatic fire extinguishing system.
Air-conditioning.
Remote control weapon station (RCWS).
Refurbished suspension.
Enhanced auxiliary power unit (APU).
Operators
Current operators
: Turkey originally planned to manufacture 350 Fırtına, 280 for Turkish Army and 70 for future customer, by 2011 per agreement with South Korea in exchange for free technology transfer from the Agency for Defense Development of South Korea. Turkey built 280 for its military use only.
Potential operators
: In February 2019, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said he was on the verge of signing an export deal for T-155 with Qatar. As of September 2023, there's no signed contract available.
: On 5 July 2023, Oleksiy Gromov, Deputy Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said he hoped to acquire a T-155.
Failed bids
: The deal didn't go through because Germany's arms embargo prevented it from supplying German MTU engines for the T-155.
See also
Similar vehicles
References
155 mm artillery
Tracked self-propelled howitzers
Self-propelled howitzers of Turkey
South Korea–Turkey relations
Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s