Samsung Techwin signs deal for delivering 120 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to Poland

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Defence & Security Industry News - Samsung Techwin
 
 
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 11:35 AM
 
Samsung Techwin signs deal for delivering 120 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to Poland
A South Korean defense company is to finalize a deal to sell its indigenous self-propelled howitzers to Poland, military officials said Wednesday. Under the US$320 million deal, Samsung Techwin Co. will export 120 of the K-9 self-propelled howitzers to Huta Stalowa Wola, the Polish public defense company, a military official said.
     
     
Samsung Techwin will produce the first 24 units here before 2018, and after that, HSW is to build the remaining 96 units,” official said. The rest will go through technical transfer and be manufactured in Poland.

The K-9 was developed in 1998 as a replacement for the K55 self-propelled howitzer, a variant of the M109.

The main armament consists of a 155mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km. The K9 Thunder has a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute and is capable of multiple-round simultaneous impact firing. It is able to fire three rounds in 15 seconds.

The vehicle is powered by a German MTU MT 881 Ka-500 diesel engine, developing 1,000 horsepower. The K9 thunder is fitted with NBC protection system.

Turkey has licensed the design of the K9 and used to develop its indigenous self-propelled howitzer, dubbed T-155 Firtina.