Breaking News
South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace and Poland's HSW deepen partnership to deliver 87 new Krab self-propelled howitzers.
On April 7, 2025, Hanwha Aerospace and Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. (HSW) signed a contract for the supply of K9 Thunder chassis components and powerpacks for 87 additional Krab 155mm self-propelled howitzers. The agreement, valued at approximately $280 million, provides for the delivery of these components between 2026 and 2028. This contract builds on a collaboration between the two companies that began in 2014 and has since included multiple agreements related to the production of the Krab howitzer, a key artillery system used by the Polish Armed Forces and manufactured in Poland by HSW with technical cooperation from Hanwha Aerospace.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In Poland, the K9 chassis has been used as the basis for the AHS Krab self-propelled howitzer since 2014, as the previous UPG-NG chassis was deemed unreliable. (Picture source: Hanwha Aerospace)
The signing ceremony was held at HSW’s headquarters in Stalowa Wola. Attendees included Jaeil Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace; Wojciech Kędziera, President of the Management Board and General Director of HSW S.A.; Arkadiusz Bąk, President of the Management Board and General Director of PGZ S.A.; Dongyeon Kim, Head of the Land Systems Business Group at Hanwha Aerospace; and Billy Boo-hwan Lee, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Europe. During the ceremony, Jaeil Son referenced the joint work on the initial production of 120 Krab systems, stating that the integration of technologies from both companies has characterized the program since its early phase.
The first agreement between Hanwha Aerospace and HSW concerning chassis components for the Krab was signed in 2014. A second agreement was concluded in 2023. The contract signed in 2025 marks the third such agreement, further formalizing cooperation on the Krab platform. Hanwha Aerospace stated that it will continue to supply equipment and pursue localized industrial cooperation in Poland, and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing collaboration with the Polish defense industry.
Hanwha Aerospace was established in 1977 and operates in the aerospace and defense sector. Its product portfolio includes land combat vehicles such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer, the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, and the K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. The company also produces precision-guided munitions and propulsion systems for aerial, naval, and space-based platforms. In addition, Hanwha Aerospace serves as the systems integrator for South Korea’s space launch vehicles.
The Krab is armed with a 155 mm/52-caliber howitzer compatible with NATO ammunition standards, which can deliver sustained fire at 2 rounds per minute and fire 18 rounds in 3 minutes under rapid conditions. (Picture source: 18 Dywizja Zmechanizowana)
The development of the AHS Krab began in the early 1990s when Poland sought to replace Soviet 152 mm systems with NATO-compatible 155 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs). Initial efforts, under the codename Zuzanna, considered cooperation with Slovakia on adapting the Dana system, but by 1996, the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) was formally commissioned to develop a Polish SPH. A 1999 tender for a turret was won by the British AS-90M Braveheart, selected over the German PzH 2000 due to more feasible integration on a domestic chassis. The Polish UPG-NG chassis, derived from the MT-S tractor and PT-91 tank components, was used in early prototypes, with the first completed in 2001. The project, later renamed Krab, encountered significant technical and financial issues, leading to delays. By 2014, as the UPG-NG chassis proved unreliable—suffering from microcracks and drivetrain issues—Poland opted to use the K9 Thunder chassis, manufactured by Samsung Techwin and later by Hanwha, as a replacement. Integration began in 2015, and serial production commenced in 2016 with a finalized Krab version combining a British turret, South Korean chassis, German MTU engine, and Polish-made electronics and barrels. Since 2019, HSW has also produced the gun barrels domestically, completing the full localization of the system.
The Krab is armed with a 155 mm/52-caliber howitzer compatible with NATO ammunition standards, which can deliver sustained fire at 2 rounds per minute and fire 18 rounds in 3 minutes under rapid conditions, while its semi-automatic loading system enables three shots in 10 seconds for rapid salvo fire. The maximum range reaches 30 km with base bleed shells and 40 km with Polish OFd MKM DV rounds, while U.S.-supplied Excalibur rounds have reportedly achieved over 50 km in Ukrainian service. It holds 40 rounds onboard—29 in the turret and 11 in the hull. Fire control is managed by the Topaz system, combining GPS/INS navigation, gyroscopic positioning, radar velocity measurement, and digital communications. The Krab can shift from march to firing position within 30 seconds and engage targets autonomously or in coordination with radar, UAVs, and observers. Compared to older Soviet systems like the 2S19 Msta-S, it offers superior range, mobility, and integration, and outperforms the U.S. M109A6 Paladin in range and fire rate.
Crewed by five personnel, the AHS Krab weighs 48 tonnes in combat configuration, with a length of 12.1 meters, a width of 3.63 meters, and a height of 3 meters to the turret roof. It is powered by an MTU Friedrichshafen MT881Ka-500 V8 water-cooled diesel engine delivering 1,000 hp at 2,700 rpm, paired with an Allison X1100-5A3 automatic transmission. The Krab achieves a top speed of 60 km/h on roads, with an operational range of 400 km. The suspension system is a hydropneumatic design (Mottrol/Horstman HSU) with six road wheels per side. The Krab also includes an auxiliary power unit, fire suppression system, NBC filtration, and digital intercom systems. Protection features include welded steel armor effective against 14.5 mm AP rounds and artillery shrapnel, a WKM-B 12.7 mm heavy machine gun (HMG), an Obra-3 laser warning/self-defense system, and smoke grenade launchers.
Drawing on prior experience with KH178 and KH179 towed howitzers, the K9 program, initiated in 1989, emphasized range, rapid firing, and mobility. (Picture source: U.S. Forces Korea)
The K9 Thunder was developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development in cooperation with firms such as Samsung Aerospace Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, and Poongsan Corporation. Initiated in 1989, the K9 aimed to replace outdated M107 and K55 (KM109A2) artillery, which were out-ranged by North Korea’s M-1978 Koksan. Drawing on prior experience with KH178 and KH179 towed howitzers, the K9 program emphasized range, rapid firing, and mobility. Initial tests began in 1992, overcoming early design flaws. The 155 mm L/52 CN98 gun, capable of firing NATO L15A1 ammunition, was paired with an automated loading system and digital fire control. After nine years of R&D, the K9 entered service in 1999. Production transitioned through Samsung Techwin, Hanwha Techwin, Hanwha Land Systems, and Hanwha Aerospace. The platform continues to evolve, with the K9A1 introduced in 2018 and the K9A2 currently undergoing testing.
The K9 Thunder has become a dominant force in the global self-propelled howitzer market, achieving a 52% share (including wheeled systems) since 2000. As of 2024, over 1,800 units have been produced, and South Korea has exported the K9 or its licensed variants to multiple countries, including Türkiye, Poland, India, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Egypt, Australia, and Romania. Many buyers have opted for local production with technology transfer, reflecting confidence in the K9’s performance, upgrade potential, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the platform’s scalability, proven performance, and compatibility with NATO munitions have made it a top export choice, often tailored with localized electronics or armor packages.
Multiple vehicles and variants have been developed from the K9 Thunder platform. These include the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, based on the same chassis and supporting operational K9 batteries. The K9A1 includes improved fire control, navigation, and crew ergonomics. The K9A2 introduces automated loading and reduces the crew from five to three. In Poland, the K9 chassis has been used as the basis for the AHS Krab—designated locally as the K9PL or PK9—and features Polish communications equipment, APU, and filtration systems. Other national adaptations include the T-155 Firtina, AS9 Huntsman, K9 Moukari, and K9 Kõu in Türkiye, Australia, Finland, and Estonia, respectively. In India, the K9 Vajra-T is assembled by Larsen & Toubro with some localized components. Future developments include the K9A3 and K9A4, aiming to further automate the system and integrate it into broader network-centric warfare concepts. Poland is also adapting the Krab/K9 chassis into a new heavy infantry fighting vehicle, the CBWP (Ciężki Bojowy Wóz Piechoty), with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2025. This vehicle will carry three crew members and eight dismounted troops and will feature the ZSSW-30 remote turret.