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, Agency for Defense Development
Designed	1989–1998
Manufacturer	Hanwha Techwin (formerly Samsung Techwin)
Unit cost	$3.9 million
Produced	1999–present
Variants	K10
Specifications
Weight	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
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.

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. The Republic of Korea Army received its first batch of K9 in 1999.

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. 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.

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. The main armament consists of a 155 mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km; the K307 BB-HE projectile propelled by the K676 top charge has a muzzle velocity of 928 m/s (3,040 ft/s). 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.