A concept image of a Hanwha Aerospace K9 self-propelled howitzer on a wheeled chassis. A concept model of the system was seen on 23 July 2024 at the Defense Quality Comprehensive Academic Conference in Changwon, South Korea. (Hanwha Aerospace)
Hanwha Aerospace has given more details to Janes about its wheeled K9 self-propelled howitzer (SPH), after a photo emerged of it on a previously unseen wheeled chassis at the Defense Quality Comprehensive Academic Conference in Changwon, South Korea, on 23 July.
The wheeled howitzer is a conceptual model from the initial stages of a research and development project for the Republic of Korea (RoK) government, Hanwha Aerospace told Janes, adding that it is possible that the wheeled system will field the K9A2 automated turret howitzer with an L58 calibre barrel, allowing for ranges of over 70 km.
Janes understands the project is primarily being developed around requirements from the US and Middle East and is being developed using Hanwha Aerospace's own budget.
Of 672 K9A1s and K9PLs procured by Poland on 27 July 2022, over 200 have now been delivered, said Major General Simon Humphrey (retd), senior vice-president for Business Development and Strategy at Hanwha Aerospace UK. A first executive contract for 212 vehicles was signed on 26 August 2022 and a second for 152 more on 4 December 2023 that includes technology transfer meant to benefit Poland's industrial base. There is no executive contract yet for the remaining 308 vehicles.
On 9 July the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) ordered 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and 36 K10 artillery ammunition resupply vehicles from Hanwha Aerospace.
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