Poland Receives More Tanks, Howitzers and MLRS from Korea

’A shipment of K9 cannon howitzers from South Korea has arrived in Poland. This is another step in the systematic modernisation of our armed forces and increasing the country’s defence capabilities.«

As the Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Bejda highlighted, the transport included 12 howitzers, nine tanks and eight Chunmoo launcher modules.

The deliveries of K2 MBTs and K9 SPHs have been taking place since 2022, while the first Chunmoo launchers, upgraded into Homar-K version, were delivered in 2023. According to estimates, by the end of the year Polish Armed Forces should receive over 130 K9A1s, 84 K2s and over 50 Chunmoo launchers at minimum. In total, the execution agreements that are in place assume the delivery of 180 K2s by 2025 and 212 K9A1s by 2026, while 218 Chunmoo should be delivered by 2027. Also, in the coming weeks the „second stage” agreements for 72 Chunmoo and 152 K9PL howitzers, signed in April 2024 and December 2023 will likely come into force, and the contract for K2 & K2PL MBTs is undergoing negotiation.

The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled cannon howitzer designed by Samsung Techwin (now Hanwha Aerospace) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It has a crew of five: commander, gunner, loader, assistant loader and driver. The main armament is a 155mm calibre howitzer with a 52-calibre barrel, which is housed in a rotating turret. With the use of a bottom gas-generator projectile, the range is 40 km, while with special ammunition the value can reach more than 50 km. The ammunition supply is 48 sets of projectiles and propelling charges. Propulsion is provided by a licence-produced MTU MT 881 Ka-500 diesel engine with 1,000 hp, which, at 47 tonnes, provides a top speed of 67 km/h and a range of 480 km.