[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Which Countries Will Join the 'K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzer User Club' This Year?

Expectations for K-9 Exports to Romania, Vietnam, and More
Half of NATO Member Countries... Standardization of Weapon Systems

Attention is focusing on the ‘K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzer User Club,’ regarded as a premium domestic weapon. Currently operated by eight countries worldwide, it is expected that more than ten countries will join the ‘User Club’ within this year.

According to the defense industry on the 25th, countries that purchased the K-9 self-propelled howitzer gathered in Helsinki, Finland, in January to hold a ‘User Club’ meeting. The K-9 self-propelled howitzer has been exported to eight countries including Poland, Norway, Egypt, Australia, and Finland, with the United States participating as an observer in this meeting. It is unusual for operators of a specific weapon system to gather and share various information and know-how. Five of the operating countries are NATO members, which could serve as a standard for NATO weapon system standardization, uniformity, and interoperability.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At this meeting attended by over 50 delegates from various countries, Hanwha Aerospace announced the development roadmap for the next-generation upgraded models K-9A2 and K-9A3 over the next decade. The K-9A2 plans to improve the current firing rate of six rounds per minute to a maximum of nine rounds through an automatic ammunition supply system. The survivability of the crew will also be significantly enhanced. Hanwha Aerospace declared its intention to establish a spare parts supply center in Europe in the future.

Each country is also closely watching the K-9 self-propelled howitzer’s entry into the defense market. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) forecasted that "South Korea will become the 5th largest arms exporter within a few years." South Korea’s share of the global arms export market currently stands at about 2.4%, ranking among the top ten exporters of tanks and artillery alongside China, Russia, France, and Germany. However, with Romania and the United Kingdom planning to purchase the K-9 self-propelled howitzer, exports to European countries are expected to increase significantly.

According to a report by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), among 16 types of medium-caliber (152mm and 155mm) self-propelled howitzers operated worldwide, the K-9 self-propelled howitzer holds a 36% market share, ranking first. Since 2010, out of 1,401 155mm self-propelled howitzers traded globally, the K-9 accounted for 626 units, representing 45%.

The Global Market is Currently Reinforcing Armored Forces

With the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the stockpiles of artillery and shells in countries around the world are decreasing. After the end of the Cold War, NATO member countries reprioritized their defense industries. European countries significantly reduced their defense budgets and the number of tanks and heavy weapons they possessed. They also stopped securing raw materials necessary for mass production of ammunition, judging that the possibility of large-scale ground warfare had decreased. Instead, they increased budgets for purchasing fighter jets and naval vessels.

In contrast, South Korea maintained its production lines through continuous investment in securing raw materials and manpower. South Korea, which had lagged behind North Korea in conventional weapons production, actively engaged in weapons development in the 1980s and has steadily increased production volume. This background allowed it to supply weapons not only ahead of schedule but also at prices lower than any Western country.

Significant Performance Upgrades Including Range of K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzer

Ukraine and Russia currently urgently need 155mm artillery shells. Russia is reaching out to North Korea to secure the lacking weapons, while Ukraine is repeatedly requesting support from the West. The United States is providing howitzers to Ukraine. Ukraine prefers self-propelled howitzers with longer barrels and longer firing ranges than towed howitzers. The shorter firing intervals are also tactically advantageous.

The K-9 self-propelled howitzer, developed in 1989, has a range of 40 km. To overcome the range limit, the range of the shells has been extended. The 155mm extended-range shells were developed by combining the propellants of drag-reducing shells and rocket-assisted projectiles used by the military. Drag-reducing shells minimize air resistance after firing to extend range. Rocket-assisted projectiles accelerate the shell’s flight by burning a rocket booster during the flight phase. If the extended-range shells are actually utilized, the K-9’s current range of about 40 km is expected to increase by more than 30%.

Who Will Be the Main Players of the K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzer ‘Next-Generation 10 User Club’?

As the performance of the K-9 self-propelled howitzer improves, the number of countries wishing to export it is also increasing. The country most likely to export first is Romania. Last year, Romania selected the K-9 self-propelled howitzer as the final candidate for its self-propelled howitzer project. Competitors include Germany’s PzH 2000 and T?rkiye’s Fırtına-2. Local media reports that the K-9 is the most likely candidate among the contenders. Through this project, Romania plans to introduce 155mm self-propelled howitzers for three battalions, about 7,350 high-explosive shells, approximately 320 smoke and illumination shells, and about 720 training rounds. The contract amount alone reaches 1 trillion KRW.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Vietnam is also favorable. On the 23rd, Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Defense, expressed willingness to expand defense industry cooperation, including the introduction of Korean weapon systems such as the K-9 self-propelled howitzer. In response, Kim Sun-ho, South Korea’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, pledged active support if Vietnam adopts Korean weapon systems.

Hanwha Aerospace has also thrown its hat into the ring for the UK’s 1.2 trillion KRW self-propelled howitzer acquisition project (MFP). The MFP is a project by the UK government aiming to operationalize about 100 latest self-propelled howitzers by 2027, and Hanwha Aerospace is expected to propose the upgraded K9A2 model.