Australia selects Hanwha K9 Thunder for 155mm SPH requirement

[Colin Parkinson]

Apparently a very nice piece of kit, not sure how it compares to the Paladin? I see the Aussies are building their own, sigh must be nice to have a real plan.....


The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) announced on 3 September 2020, that they have selected the offer from Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) to supply 155mm self-propelled howitzers and armored ammunition resupply vehicles under its LAND 8116 Phase 1 Protected Mobility Fires Project.

HDA will build and supply 30 modified versions of the K9 Thunder 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, and 15 K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles, as well as other support systems and equipment, which will all be built locally in Geelong, Victoria.

rest at link https://www.asiapacificdefensejournal.com/2020/09/australia-selects-hanwha-k9-thunder-for.html?fbclid=IwAR3PIPtrfppB_PZ4w2t8GRJBcNtV3EEqeC2-4t-evXsCQozQyNPU77sCCTU

 

[FJAG]

Apparently a very nice piece of kit, not sure how it compares to the Paladin? I see the Aussies are building their own, sigh must be nice to have a real plan.....


The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) announced on 3 September 2020, that they have selected the offer from Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) to supply 155mm self-propelled howitzers and armored ammunition resupply vehicles under its LAND 8116 Phase 1 Protected Mobility Fires Project.

HDA will build and supply 30 modified versions of the K9 Thunder 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, and 15 K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles, as well as other support systems and equipment, which will all be built locally in Geelong, Victoria.

rest at link https://www.asiapacificdefensejournal.com/2020/09/australia-selects-hanwha-k9-thunder-for.html?fbclid=IwAR3PIPtrfppB_PZ4w2t8GRJBcNtV3EEqeC2-4t-evXsCQozQyNPU77sCCTU

The current K9 has a bit of an edge over the current M109A6 and A7 (note the A7 amongst other things changes the chassis to the Bradley line of vehicles chassis but generally has the same gun & fire control system).

The K9 is a bit longer and heavier by about 10 tons (it varies between versions) primarily because the armour is steel; has an autoloader system and has a 155mm/52 caliber gun while the M109 is primarily aluminum, is manually loaded and has a 155mm/39 calibre gun (therefore shorter ranges in general). There are plans to upgrade the M109 to a 155mm/58 calibre gun and add an autoloader system (to be designated the M1299).

IMHO the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle is also more capable than the M992 ammo support vehicle. It stores slightly more shells, has an ammo transfer bridge conveyor that's quicker and it's bridge comes out the front so that the K10 can drive straight up to the K9 rather than backing up like the M992 needs to do. In fact many crews remove the conveyor from the M992 because it's faster to transfer ammo by hand leaving them exposed during the transfer.

:cheers: