Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract on November 7 to produce Norway with 4 extra K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPHs) and eight different K10 Ammunition Resupply Autos (ARVs) for the supply over the subsequent two years. The contract is a part of extra supply choices associated to the 2017 contract between Hanwha and the Norwegian Defence Materials Company (NDMA) to offer 24 K9 SPHs and 6 K10 ARVs. Beneath the earlier contract, Hanwha has efficiently delivered the K9 VIDAR (Versatile Oblique Artillery) self-propelled weapons assembly the operational necessities of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The signing of the choice contract was held through teleconference, with the attendance of prime executives from Hanwha Aerospace, equivalent to Vice President Kwak Jong-woo, Head of Land Methods Enterprise Division, and Govt Vice President Kim Dae-young, Head of Abroad Enterprise Heart. Norwegian delegates had been led by Brigadier Normal Thomas Beck, Head of Land Methods Division at NDMA.
“The most recent choice contract for the extra supply of K9 VIDAR techniques and K10 ARVs is a key milestone for enhanced defence cooperation between Hanwha and Norway. Norway is a key pillar of the increasing group of K9 consumer international locations, and we are going to dedicate our honest effort to implement the choice contract and contribute to enhancing Norwegian defence capabilities,” stated Vice President Kwak.
Commercial
The 155mm/52-calibre K9 Thunder is the world’s hottest tracked self-propelled gun with over 1,700 models already in service, accounting for practically 60 p.c of the SPH market globally. Since 2001, the K9 has been ordered by eight international locations together with Turkey, India, Poland, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Australia and Egypt. The howitzer can ship constant, correct, fast results at +40km vary with excessive charges and volumes of fireside. Particularly, the K9 is optimized for “Shoot-and-Scoot” functionality to fireside a number of rounds and instantly transfer to a distinct location to keep away from potential counter-fire. Following the modifications to the K9A1 model, the artillery system is being upgraded to the newer K9A2 variant geared up with a totally computerized ammunition dealing with system. The autoloading K9A2, which is being supplied to the UK Cell Fires Platform program, can fireplace 9 rounds per minute, with simply three crew members.
With the enlargement of nations working K9 artillery techniques, Hanwha held the primary K9 Consumer Membership assembly in April 2022 in Changwon, South Korea, to share expertise on easy methods to get the very best out of the tools and easy methods to practice finest for the artillery answer. Norway is scheduled to host the second K9 Consumer Membership assembly in Norway in February 2023. The K9 is changing the Norwegian Military’s M109A3GN SPHs. Norway is among the eight international locations which have ordered the K9. In a current milestone, the K9 and K10 had been efficiently examined by the US Military to show their compatibility with numerous US munitions. The check was carried out on the Yuma Proving Floor in Arizona in mid-September 2022 to fireside various kinds of US munitions together with 155mm M795 projectiles and XM1113 Rocket Help Projectiles.
