'1000-Horsepower-Class Engine for K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer' Localized
STX Engine Holds First Mass Production Shipment Ceremony for Domestic Engine
On the 27th, Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held a rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced 1,000-horsepower domestically developed engine for the K9 self-propelled howitzer at STX Engine.
Changwon Special City, Ceremony Celebrating the Localization Achievement of the 1,000-Horsepower Engine for the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer, the Power of K-Defense Industry.
The event was attended by Park Sungtaek, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Seok Jonggeon, Commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Kim Myeongju, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangnam-do, Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Han Seungyeop, Deputy President of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and various related organizations and partner companies.
The rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced domestic engine for the K9 self-propelled howitzer was held inside the STX Engine production plant. After the ceremony, participants toured the production plant and the exhibition hall where the engine was displayed, concluding the event.
The 1,000-horsepower engine for the K9 self-propelled howitzer developed by STX Engine is considered a representative achievement of the government's R&D project, which was promoted to overcome export approval restrictions and achieve technological independence after the collapse of K9 self-propelled howitzer export negotiations with the United Arab Emirates in 2020 due to Germany's arms embargo on the Middle East. The engine is evaluated to perform at least on par with, if not better than, the existing MTU engine.
Although the K9 self-propelled howitzer has been making a mark in the global defense market, there have been challenges in exports due to reliance on the German MTU engine, requiring approval from the German government for each export deal.
To address this, a consortium of industry, academia, and research institutions?including STX Engine, Korea Automotive Technology Institute, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, and Hanyang University?was formed and promoted under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry. As a result, the development of a domestic engine in just over three years now allows for independent export to defense markets around the world without any restrictions, which is highly significant.
Changwon Special City Mayor Hong Nampyo is receiving an explanation in an exhibition hall equipped with a production factory and engines.
With the export path now opened, a 'trickle-down effect' is also expected, benefiting local defense SMEs that have cooperative relationships with major companies leading K-Defense. Furthermore, since the engine can be applied not only to the K9 self-propelled howitzer but also to the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle and the AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle, the economic value of the defense industry is expected to rise even further.
Mayor Hong Nampyo of Changwon Special City stated, "In a situation where the localization of parts and materials and the importance of independent technology are being highlighted, the newly developed 1,000-horsepower domestic engine for the K9 self-propelled howitzer will achieve technological independence and serve as a meaningful achievement that showcases the strength of K-Defense to the world."
He added, "Going forward, the city will focus its administrative efforts on creating a domestic industrial complex for defense and nuclear fusion industries to enhance competitiveness and drive technological innovation in the defense sector. We will also strengthen the organic network among industry, academia, research, and the military to make every effort to become a world-class defense city like Grenoble, France."
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