K9A1, providing digital map in fire control system
K9A2, applying remote fire control system on turret
K9A3, world’s first human-robot combined self-propelled howitzer,
Hanwha Aerospace unveils K9 performance improved model ‘K9A3’ at KADEX exhibition. Photo provided=Hanwha Aerospace,
, ‘[Seoul Economy]’,
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, ‘”Artillery is the God of modern warfare.” This quote is from Joseph Stalin of Russia (formerly the Soviet Union).’,
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, ‘Statistics show that approximately 60% of total casualties in a war are caused by enemy artillery. Especially in wars that are prolonged and the frontlines get stuck, the dependence on artillery firepower becomes even more significant. Ultimately, artillery firepower not only targets enemy forces but also plays a role in destroying the artillery itself, thus having a crucial impact on gaining control of the battlefield.’,
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, ‘The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has lasted for over two years, once again highlights the importance of artillery. It is not an exaggeration to say that the outcome of wars relies heavily on the production capacity of ammunition and projectiles.’,
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, ‘In this regard, the main self-propelled howitzer of the South Korean military, the ‘K9’, and its improved version currently being deployed, the ‘K9A1′, are recognized as world-class self-propelled artillery systems. According to Hanwha Aerospace, the K9 self-propelled howitzer has been produced and sold to over 10 countries with more than 1,700 units, solidifying its position as a “best-selling self-propelled howitzer”. As of 2023, out of 4,656 self-propelled howitzers using 155mm shells globally, the production quantity of the K9 is 1,787 units, reflecting a 36% market share in the global self-propelled howitzer export market.’,
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, ‘But the story doesn’t end there. The K9 self-propelled howitzer continues to evolve with upgrades to adapt to the changes in modern warfare. The performance improvements from K9 to K9A1, ‘K9A2’, and ‘K9A3′ are continuing.’,
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, ‘Recently, at the ‘KADEX 2024 exhibition’ held at Gyeryongdae, Chungcheongnam-do, Hanwha unveiled a model and detailed information about their next-generation self-propelled howitzer, the ‘K9A3′. While operational concepts had been partially revealed until now, this marks the first time that the complete concept and performance have been made public.’,
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World-class self-propelled howitzer K9A1 deployed in the military. Photo provided=Kookbang Ilbo,
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, ‘The K9A1, the upgraded version of the K9 main self-propelled howitzer, began first delivery in 2018 and has been deployed to frontline units. The key advantage of the K9A1 is the addition of an auxiliary power unit (APU) to enable mission execution without the main engine. It also replaced the night vision devices of the gunner with ‘thermal imaging’ for rapid mission execution day and night. The upgraded ‘automatic fire control system’ provides digital maps and real-time ammunition status management. The performance improvements have led to a 2-3 times increase in combat effectiveness based on simulation results for the K9A1.’,
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, ‘In September last year, Hanwha unveiled the ‘K9A2′ self-propelled howitzer with further advancements at the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London. It is the second upgraded model of the K9 self-propelled howitzer.’,
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, ‘Almost all processes, from position checking, ballistic computation, cooling, shell loading, charging, telescope installation, and firing, have been automated in the unmanned turret configuration. While using the same chassis and mobility system as the K9, the structure of the ammunition loading device has been changed. The semi-automatic loading of shells and charges has been improved to full automation through the automatic loading device.’,
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, ‘As a result, it can fire up to 9 rounds per minute. The interior design of the turret has been significantly changed, and the turret length has been extended. The introduction of the automatic loading device eliminates the need for two crew members for handling ammunition, reducing the crew size from 5 to 3.’,
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, ‘In addition, a remote fire control system (RCWS) has been installed on top of the turret for overcoming constraints such as space limitation for the K6 machine gun and for self-protection. To minimize damage in case of a fire, an automatic fire extinguishing system has been installed to enhance survivability. Furthermore, air conditioning systems have been added for crew comfort to prevent heat-related injuries and to enhance combat efficiency, enabling the crew to operate in a comfortable environment.’,
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, ‘In particular, for the improvement of the suspension and track weight reduction, the application of rubber tracks is under consideration. The new self-propelled howitzer unveiled at the ‘DSE 2023 exhibition’ in the UK was equipped with composite rubber tracks, which are used on the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, instead of traditional metal tracks. The composite rubber tracks eliminate noise from metal friction during movement. They prevent road damage and allow for high-speed driving.’,
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, ‘With such performance improvements, it is expected that the gap in performance between the K9 self-propelled howitzer, which had an advantage over the German-made ‘PzH2000′, will greatly decrease, enhancing its export competitiveness.’,
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K9A2 self-propelled howitzer unveiled at ‘DSE 2023’ in the UK in September 2023. Photo provided=Hanwha Aerospace,
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, ‘The upgrade of the K9 self-propelled howitzer is an ongoing process. The latest version, the ‘K9A3’, has also initiated research and development (R&D) for fully autonomous mobility. It aims to develop a K9 self-propelled howitzer that can operate autonomously in the long run without human crews onboard. It is a leap towards the ‘quantum leap’ of self-propelled howitzer technology.’,
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, ‘The most significant innovation is the operation of the ‘world’s first human-robot combined (MUM-T) self-propelled howitzer’. Once developed, the K9A3 will be the world’s first human-robot combined self-propelled howitzer, capable of controlling a single self-propelled howitzer with one crew member or, depending on the situation, controlling an entire battalion of self-propelled howitzers with just a few crew members through automatic operation.’,
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, ‘To achieve this, new technologies are being developed in three main directions. Firstly, by applying the fully unmanned automatic loading technology that is being put into practical use in the K9A2, the aim is to eliminate the number of loaders required for the self-propelled howitzer. Secondly, the introduction of human-robot combined driving capabilities will enable unmanned self-propelled howitzers to move autonomously or operate in a follow-up mode following lead vehicles carrying ammunition or reconnaissance vehicles ahead.’,
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, ‘Lastly, the introduction of the ‘K11A1′ fire control command vehicle (armored vehicle), where not only the artillery unit commander but also the self-propelled howitzer control crew will be on board for combined human-robot adjustments. This vehicle serves as a remotely controlled command post for movement.’,
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, ‘Using the integral rubber track adopted in the AS21 ‘Redback’ armored vehicle exported to Australia will enhance long-distance operational capabilities and reduce exposure to enemies by lowering noise and vibration levels. This will significantly increase survivability.’,
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, ‘Another significant improvement of the K9A3 is its firepower. Equipped with a new 58-caliber gun barrel, it increases the range of projectiles by over 20% compared to the previous K9A1 and K9A2 models. When combined with the latest guided rockets that are currently under research, the K9A3 can extend its range up to 80 km, comparable to short-range ballistic missiles, enabling easy targeting of key enemy ammunition depots and critical targets from a distance.’,
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