Korea develops first domestic engine for K-9 self-propelled howitzer

Korea has successfully developed an indigenous engine for the K-9 self-propelled howitzer.

A K9 self-propelled howitzer conducts fire training during the 'Joint Artillery Firing Exercise' in Gangwon in April. [JOONGANG DAILY]

Korea has successfully developed an indigenous engine for the K-9 self-propelled howitzer, the state arms procurement agency said Friday.

The domestically produced engine is the result of a 32.16 billion won ($24.5 million) project under the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) aimed at reducing the howitzer’s reliance on foreign components that kicked off in 2021.

The engine was developed in joint cooperation between STX Engine, Hanwha Aerospace and others.

While Hanwha Aerospace produced the K-9 howitzer, a German MTU engine that STX Engine built under license has powered it thus far.

DAPA said in its news release that the domestically developed engine will reduce the K-9's manufacturing cost and sport performance superior to that of the German engine.

The domestic engine's replacement of the MTU engine will also likely eliminate the need for additional export approval regarding the K-9’s foreign-derived components.

The K-9 howitzer has become one of Korea’s most successful defense exports since its introduction in 1999.

The self-propelled howitzer from Korea commands nearly half the global artillery market.

The system tops a list of 16 medium-caliber (152 to 155 millimeters) self-propelled howitzers in that are worldwide use, holding a 36 percent market share, according to a 2023 Korea Defense Industry Association report.

The K-9 has accounted for 626, or 45 percent, of the 1,401 transactions involving 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzers globally since 2010.

The K-9 has been exported to various countries including Australia, Egypt, India, Norway and Poland.

Observers credit the K-9’s global market success to continuous technological advancements that have improved its performance while maintaining competitive pricing.

The K-9 is priced at more than 4 billion won, which is half the cost of competitors like Germany's PzH-2000.

Analysts have also attributed the howitzer’s success to the effectiveness of tailored export strategies that meet target countries’ specific needs and circumstances.

Last month, Hanwha Aerospace completed the construction of a factory in Geelong, Australia, to produce Australian variants of the howitzer and other armored vehicles.

As the country’s first overseas defense production facility, Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence will manufacture AS9 self-propelled howitzers, AS10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles and Redback infantry fighting vehicles.

AS9 and AS10 are Australian models of the Korean K-9 howitzers and K-10 vehicles.

Hanwha Aerospace is contracted to supply 30 AS9s and 15 units AS10s to the Australian army by 2027.

In June, Romania announced plans to procure 54 K-9s and 36 K-10s from Hanwha Aerospace at a cost $920 million, marking the Eastern European country’s largest defense acquisition in the last seven years.

The move makes Bucharest the ninth purchaser and tenth operator of the K-9 system.

The Romanian deal came seven months after Poland inked a 3.45 trillion won executive contract with Hanwha Aerospace to deliver 152 K-9 self-propelled howitzers as part of a larger framework agreement the parties had inked in July of 2022 to supply 672 K-9 howitzers and 288 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers.

Both Romania and Poland's K-9 acquisitions came in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, which has led countries across Europe to beef up their defense spending.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]