Hanwha Signs Agreement to Integrate K9 Thunder Gun Into Polish Krab Self-Propelled Howitzer.

Hanwha Aerospace, a South Korean company, is set to strengthen its presence in the European defense market through a new export agreement to integrate the Korean K9 Thunder gun onto the Polish Krab tracked armored chassis. This development was confirmed during a meeting between leaders of the Polish and South Korean defense industries in Warsaw on May 10, 2024.
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The AHS Krab is a self-propelled tracked howitzer manufactured in Poland. (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)

The partnership was formalized through a Letter of Intent signed by Hanwha Aerospace and Huta Stalowa Wola, part of the Polish state-owned defense group PGZ. This agreement outlines future cooperation and the export of components for the K9 Thunder and Krab howitzers.

PGZ indicated that the collaboration would explore adapting the Krab chassis to accommodate the Korean K9A2 and K9A3 variants. There has been previous success in merging the Korean chassis with the Polish Krab turret system.

The AHS Krab is a self-propelled tracked howitzer manufactured in Poland, with design contributions from BAE Systems and Samsung Techwin from 1997 to 2006. This artillery system, which went into production in 2008, is used by the Polish and Ukrainian land forces and has been deployed in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

The Krab weighs 48 tons and is 12.1 meters long, featuring a 155 mm caliber cannon that can fire shells up to a maximum range of 40 kilometers using Excalibur-type ammunition. It is designed for high mobility, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h on roads thanks to its STX Engine/MTU Friedrichshafen MT881Ka-500 diesel engine, which delivers 1,000 horsepower. It carries a stock of 40 rounds, distributed between the turret and the hull, and is equipped with an advanced sighting system from WB Electronics Topaz FCS.

Additionally, the Krab is armed with a .50 caliber WKM-B machine gun as secondary armament. Its robust design includes up to 16 mm thick steel armor, and it features a hydropneumatic suspension that enhances its ability to navigate varied terrains. Its crew of five can operate the howitzer with a sustained firing capacity of two rounds per minute, or eighteen rounds in three minutes during rapid firing sessions.

Future enhancements for the K9 series include the K9A2, which will feature a fully automated turret, and the more advanced K9A3 model, which will include a 58-caliber cannon, further automation, artificial intelligence improvements, and is expected to enter the market in the early 2030s.

The cooperation between Poland and Korea has been long-standing and continues to grow stronger, with Poland increasingly purchasing Korean military equipment, as evidenced by this new contract between the two nations.