The world’s most confirmed artillery system already in service with 9 nations, the K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) can be within the highlight at this yr’s land energy exposition hosted by the Affiliation of the US Military (AUSA). The 155mm/52-calibre gun can be on present alongside with the K10 Ammunition Resupply Car (ARV) at AUSA 2022, to be run on October 10-12 at Walter E. Washington Conference Heart, Washington D.C. The show of K9 household autos follows their profitable demonstration of compatibility with varied US munitions at Yuma Proving Floor, Arizona, in September. The newest reside demonstration was carried out underneath the Cooperative Analysis and Improvement Settlement (CRADA) framework signed between Hanwha and US Military Fight Capabilities Improvement Command Armaments Heart (DEVCOM AC) in 2021, with the goal of assessing the feasibility, efficiency and capabilities of carrying and firing the US munitions by Hanwha’s artillery platforms.
The K9 Thunder is a finest confirmed tracked platform, permitting real, sustained 360 diploma firing options, delivering constant, correct, fast results at +40km vary with excessive charges and volumes of fireplace. The K10 is a completely automated ammunition resupply automobile designed for use along with the K9. Primarily based on the identical chassis of the K9 SPH, the ARV carries a complete of 104 rounds and possesses the identical mobility because the K9. At Yuma, Hanwha’s gun crew demonstrated the capabilities of K9A1 SPH and K10 ARV by loading and firing various kinds of US ammunition, reminiscent of 155mm M795 projectiles, XM1113 Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP), and Modular Artillery Cost System (MACS) expenses.
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“Together with these nice, legacy weapon programs reminiscent of K9, Hanwha Protection has striven for delivering robotics and autonomous programs with very good and tailored capabilities since 2006. Arion-SMET is the most recent version to this effort that will stand sturdy on the period of ushering in Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), and not too long ago will get numerous attentions from the home and worldwide market as its functionalities are simply expandable and its capabilities are very aggressive,” stated Search engine optimisation Youngwoo, Govt Vice President of Hanwha Protection’s Division of Defence Robotics and Autonomous Methods Improvement.
“The demonstration efficiently met all of its CRADA aims, having proven the total interoperability of K9 and K10 autos with US munitions and expenses, along with the prolonged vary, shoot and scoot and excessive price of fireplace of the K9 system,” stated John Kelly, President and CEO of Hanwha Protection USA. “The collaboration with DEVCOM AC and US Military Take a look at and Analysis Command at Yuma has been glorious.”
By means of the reside functionality check, the K9A1 efficiently proved its ‘Shoot and Scoot’ functionality, firing a number of rounds and shifting out of the place instantly to negate the hazard of counter-battery fireplace. As well as, the artillery confirmed excessive ranges of burst fireplace and price of fireplace with the firing of three rounds in 16 seconds, and 6 rounds in 45 seconds, respectively. In the course of the present, Hanwha may even current the expansion potential of K9 artillery system, which is being upgraded to the K9A2 model outfitted with a completely automated ammunition dealing with system. With the automated turret, the K9A2 can attain a fireplace price of at the least 9 rounds per minute, solely with three crew members. Additional down the road, extra futuristic K9 model, codenamed K9A3, can be developed to characteristic an prolonged firing vary and distant managed/autonomous driving modes.
