First Foreign Showcase of Hanwha Defense's K9A2 Howitzer at UK Event

South Korea’s Hanwha Defense will exhibit the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, an upgraded version of the K9A1, for the first time at the Defence Vehicle Dynamic (DVD) exhibition being held on Sept. 21-22 in the United Kingdom.

K9A2 will be on show at DVD at the UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, the company confirmed in a statement today.

Hanwha is proposing the K9A2 for UK’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme.

The 155mm/52-calibre K9 Thunder is a proven tracked platform, allowing genuine, sustained 360-degree firing solutions, delivering consistent, accurate, rapid effects at +40km range with high rates and volumes of fire, including Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact, or MRSI. The Thunder carries 48 rounds, far more rounds than many of its rivals, facilitating a significantly enhanced number of missions.

Being proposed for the Royal Artillery, K9A2 will be a real game changer. The British variant of the K9A2 will be equipped with the Composite Rubber Track, which will enable more rapid ‘in to’ and ‘out of’ action, coupled with higher levels of tactical mobility and automation. The UK variant will be capable of firing up to 10 rounds per minute, with just three crewmembers.

Sun Wi, Director of Overseas Business Division and Programme Manager for MFP, Hanwha Defense said: “The K9A2 will deliver opportunities for novel artillery employment and enables fast moving, shoot and scoot operations, to enhance survivability and extend battlefield coverage.”

“Alongside our Team Thunder partners, we will be demonstrating at DVD 2022 how the K9A2 platform is the most advanced and credible artillery system for MFP, offering a tried, tested and trusted solution,” Wi said. “The key theme is to ensure that the K9A2 will feature proven capability and expertise from across UK.”

Hanwha Defense has created Team Thunder, a partnership of UK defence companies with whom it already has strong relationships.

The team includes Lockheed Martin UK, Leonardo UK, Pearson Engineering, Horstman Defence Systems in UK; and Soucy Defense from Canada.

Hanwha Defense has committed to transfer at least 50 % of the manufacture of the British K9A2 to the UK under its Team Thunder alliance.