Polish defence min says army now has over 200 K9 howitzers
The Polish Armed Forces have received another 21 K9 self-propelled howitzers, bringing the total number delivered to more than 200, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Sunday.
In a post on X, Kosiniak-Kamysz said the howitzers had reached the 16th Mechanised Division and the Rocket and Artillery Training Centre in the northern Polish town of Torun. He added that further military units would receive the equipment in the coming weeks.
The K9s, produced by South Korea’s Hanwha, are set to become one of the main artillery systems used by Polish forces. They were first ordered in 2022 by then Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak to quickly strengthen artillery capabilities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the transfer of Polish equipment to Kyiv.
A 2022 framework agreement provides for 672 howitzers, some of which will be adapted to the Polonised K9PL version. Two executive contracts have been signed so far. The first, from August 2022, covers 212 South Korean-produced units to be delivered between 2022 and 2026, worth around 2.4 billion dollars. Deliveries under this contract are close to completion.
The second contract, signed in December 2023, includes 152 additional howitzers, 146 of them in the K9PL variant, to be supplied between 2025 and 2027 for around 2.6 billion dollars.
The tracked K9A1 is armed with a 155 mm, 52-calibre gun capable of firing accurately at distances over 40 kilometres, depending on ammunition type, and is equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun. Its armour protects against small-arms fire and artillery shrapnel. The vehicle is powered by a 1,000-hp diesel engine and weighs 47 tonnes.
The K9A1 includes upgrades to improve firing effectiveness, situational awareness and crew comfort. Polish-delivered units are equipped with domestic communication systems and the Polish TOPAZ battle management system.
K9 howitzers are also used by several European NATO members, including Estonia, Finland and Norway. (PAP)
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