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K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer

The new K9 howitzer, South Korean designed and developed, will give the Republic of Korea Army a significant improvement in capability over the current M109A2. With a claimed a range of 40 km, it offers greater mobility, longer range and 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, therefore, less likely to be engaged by counterbattery fire. K9 is an indegenous system of an all-welded steel armour contruction which is rated to withstand impact by 14.5mm armour piercing shells and 152mm shell fragments. The main armament consists of a 155mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40km. State-of-the-art mobility subsystems include a 1,000 horsepower engine with potential for growth and hydropneumatic suspension unit.

Domestic development of the KH-179 and the armament which is constructed, and KM109A2 coproduction of ammunition, led to a new style self-propelled artillery. The development program of this 155mm/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. The contract, the South Korean Army received the first production batch of K9 from prime contractor SSA in 1999, making it the second country to deploy such a system.

The K-9 considered international ammunition compatibility, and it adopted a basic plan of armament and ammunition in order for the development to be completed. For export to be possible, it uses the standards international common 155 ? caliber ammunition. The system includes the point weapon system, armament, ammunition, and the gun. It developed turret driving gear and the infrastructure from domestic sources, and considered economical efficiency in the navigation system, engine and transmission introduced from foreign countries. The suspension system was from in-country production, after introduction of technical know-how.

The K-9 overcame the numerical inferiority of North Korea preparation fire in the short-term. And in order for the defense of the fatherland to be possible from circumference environment of all Korea, the rate of fire and reactivity were maximized, along with survivability and a mobility. The maximum range is planned in order for the Corps fire support to be possible.

After receiving a fire command, the K9 thunder is able to fire on a target within 30 seconds at emplacement and within 60 seconds from movement. Even though TOT (time on target) firing may be accomplished by several howitzers simultaneously, the K9 thunder is able to more efficiently accomplish the same task by simply changing its fire data. The K9 thunder alone can produce three times as much as the M109A2 155mm SPH in firing capability.