K9 Thunder

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.
==Variants==
*XK9: Experimental prototype.
*K9 Thunder: First-production variant.
**T-155 Fırtına: Turkish version with modified turret, chassis, electronics and navigation system.
***T-155 Fırtına 2: Turkish upgrade of T-155 Fırtına.
**AS9 "Aussie Thunder": Offered Australian variant of the K9 in 2012. It featured enhanced FCS, BMS-F, RWS, and anti-tank mine protection capability. The suspension is also upgraded to support increased weight.
**AHS Krab: Polish self-propelled howitzer, using the K9 chassis and AS-90 turret. Chassis is license produced by Huta Stalowa Wola.
**K9 PIP: K9 upgrade plan noticeably adding APU, upgraded FCS. The upgrade later evolved into K9A1 with additional modifications.
***K9 VAJRA-T: Indian variant of K9. Manufactured by Larsen & Toubro under license with 50% Indian components. It is customized for desert and alpine operations, and is the first variant to equip Safran MINEO DFSS, a dedicated gunner's sight for direct firing capability similar to main battle tanks.
***K9FIN Moukari: Finnish variant of K9. Transferred from the Republic of Korea Armed Forces inventory with refurbishment and upgrades.
***K9EST Kõu (Lightning): Estonian variant of the K9. Formerly used by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and refurbished with upgrades.
**K9A1: First enhanced variant. Added APU, GPS navigator, driver's thermal periscope, rear surveillance camera, and improved fire control system. A1 upgrade also allows to use new extended range ammunition, increasing its firing range. First K9A1 rolled out and is in service of the Republic of Korea Army since 2018. All K-9 operated by the ROK Armed Forces will be upgraded to A1 by 2030.
***K9 VIDAR (Versatile InDirect ARtillery system): Norwegian variant of the K9A1.
****AS9 "Huntsman": Offered Australian variant of the K9 in 2019 inline with Hanhwa's proposal of the AS21 "Redback" IFV offering for LAND 400 Phase 3.
***K9A1EGY: Egyptian variant of K9A1. Will be produced under license in Egypt.
***K9PL(A1): Polish variant of K9A1. Equipped Polish subsystems such as TOPAZ FCS and C2 network system.
**K9A2: Under development. A2 variant will apply auto-loader, increased firing rate, 3 operators, remote control directly from BTCS.
***K9PL(A2): Licensed variant of the K9A2 for the Polish Land Forces.
***K9A2 Block-II: 155mm/58-caliber variant of K9A2. Proposal stage only.
**K9A3: Fully automated and unmanned K9A2 The development is scheduled to finish by 2025, and expect to be in service by 2027.
*K10: Ammunition resupply vehicle using K9 chassis.
**K10 VIDAR (Versatile InDirect ARtillery system): Norwegian variant of the K10.
***K10 AARV (Armored Ammunition Resupply Vehicle): Enhanced protection variant of K10 ARV.
****AS10: Offered Australian variant of the K10.
****AS10C2: Suggested protected Command & Control Post variant based on AS10.
*K11 FDCV (Fire Direction Control Vehicle): Fire direction control vehicle based on K10.
==Users==
*Australia
**Australian Army x 30 AS9 and 15 AS10s; another 30 AS9 SPHs and 15 AS10s ordered in 2020.
*Egypt
**Egyptian Army
*Estonia
**Estonian Army x 18 - 12 more on order
*Finland
**Finnish Army x 48 - 48 more on order
*India
**Indian Army x 145
*Republic of Korea
**Republic of Korea Army x 1,136 K9s and 179 K10s
**Republic of Korea Marine Corps
*Norway
**Royal Norwegian Army x 52 K9s and 20 K10s
*Poland
**Polish Army x 120 K9 chassis will be produced as part of the AHS Krab program. 212 K9A1 ordered in August 2022
*Romania
**Romanian Army x 58 K9 and 36 K10
*Turkey
**Turkish Land Forces - see T-155 Fırtına
*Vietnam
**Vietnam People's Ground Forces x 108 K9
==See Also==
===Related Development===
*AHS Krab
*T-155 Fırtına
===Comparable Vehicles===
*2S19 Msta
*2S35 Koalitsiya-SV
*AS-90
*Bhim SPH
*GCT 155mm SPH
*M109 Paladin
*M1299 Self-Propelled Howitzer
*PLZ-45
*PLZ-05
*PzH2000
*SSPH Primus
*Type 99 Self-Propelled Howitzer
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