K9 Thunder

Self-propelled artillery South KoreaIn service since 1999

Photo coming soon: side view on a transparent background, with author and license.

Key specs

Type: Self-propelled artillery
Origin: South Korea
Manufacturer: Hanwha Techwin, Hanwha Aerospace
Designer: Agency for Defense Development, Samsung Aerospace Industries, Kia Heavy Industry
Designed: 1989
Entered service: 1999
Production start: 1998
Units produced: 1,900
Status: In service
Crew: 9

Overview

K9 Thunder is a self-propelled artillery system from South Korea, made by Hanwha Techwin and Hanwha Aerospace. It entered service in 1999; production began in 1998; 1,900 were built. It fires 155 mm shells up to 54 km. It is used or was used by Türkiye, South Korea, Australia, Egypt and 9 other countries.

Armament

Main armament: Hyundai WIA CN98 155 mm 52 caliber, 48 rounds
Caliber: 155 mm
Maximum range of fire: 54 km
Secondary armament: SNT Dynamics K6 12.7x99 mm NATO HMG

Dimensions and weights

Weight: 47 t
Length: 12.00 m
Width: 3.40 m
Height: 2.73 m

Mobility and protection

Engine: STX Engine/MTU Friedrichshafen MT881Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine 735 kW (1,000 hp) @ 2,700 rpm
Power: 735 kW
Road speed: 67 km/h
Operational range: 360 km
Fuel capacity: 850 l
Suspension: Mottrol/Horstman Hydropneumatic Suspension Unit (HSU) Travel distance: ≤ 275 mm Dead…
Armour: POSCO MIL-12560H armor steel (South Korean produced variants only, after 2022); Bisalloy armour steel (foreign licensed variants, after 2022); Spall liner…

Variants

K9 Thunder1999T-155 Fırtına2005

Users & conflicts

Operators

Sources

Wikipedia: K9 Thunder, Wikipedia

Figures from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article, completed from Wikidata and the article in other languages where it gives none; where there are several versions, the first one given. Operators include former ones; the side that used a vehicle in a war is derived from its operators.