The K9 Thunder is an indigenous South Korean military self-propelled 155 mm howitzer developed by Samsung Techwin. K9 is an indigenous system of an all-welded steel armour construction which is rated to withstand impact by 14.5 mm armour piercing shells and 152 mm shell fragments. The main armament consists of a 155 mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km. State-of-the-art mobility subsystems include a 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) engine with potential for growth and hydropneumatic suspension unit, a requirement for Korea's rugged mountainous terrain.
K9 Thunder was designed to give the artillery wing of the Republic of Korea Army a significant improvement in capability. With a claimed range of 40 km, it offers greater mobility, longer range, higher rate of fire, and increased battlefield survivability as it can quickly be brought into action, open fire and come out of action. Consequently, it is less likely to be engaged by counterbattery fire, relying on shoot-and-scoot.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 47 tonnes (K9)
56 tonnes (T-155 'Firtina') |
| Length | 12 m |
| Width | 3.4m |
| Height | 2.73m |
| Crew | 5 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2 Loaders) |
| | |
| Rate of fire | 6~8 round/min (Maximum)
2 rounds/min (Sustained) 3 rounds in 15.0 seconds (Burst) |
| Maximum range | 30,000 m (HE)
38,000 m (DP-ICM base bleed) 41,600 m (Extended range full-bore-base) 52-56,000 m (BB+RAP extended range) |
| | |
| Primary
armament | 52 cal (155mm howitzer) |
| Secondary
armament | 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) K6 HMG |
| Engine | MTU MT 881 Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel
1000 hp |
| Power/weight | 21 hp/ton |
| Suspension | hydropneumatic |
| Operational
range | 480 km |
| Speed | 66 km/h |
