Latest news with #K9Thunder
India.com
22-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
BIG trouble for Pakistan, China as Indian Army to get 100 more units of these lethal weapons in 2025, they are capable of...
K9 Vajra-T Howitzer (File) Amid the recent flare up in India-Pakistan tensions, the Indian Army is set to induct an additional 100 units of K9 Vajra-T Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPHs), which will significantly enhance the army's artillery capabilities along the borders with China and Pakistan. According to reports, private defence manufacturer Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is preparing to deliver the new batch of these deadly artillery guns by the end of 2025. Indian Army to get 100 more units of K9 Vajra-T howitzers Between 2018 and 2021, the Indian Army inducted an initial 100 K9 Vajra-T Howitzers, that have proven quite effective across varied terrains, especially in the rugged, high-altitude region of Ladakh. On December 24, 2024, a new order worth $890 million (around Rs 7,628 crore), for 100 more units was confirmed via an agreement with Hanwha Aerospace, L&T's South Korean partner, marking another major milestone in the continued push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. How powerful is the K9 Vajra-T howitzer? Adapted from the K9 Thunder, which was originally designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and private corporations including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aerospace Industries for the South Korean armed forces, the K9 Vajra-T is a 155mm/52-caliber tracked self-propelled howitzer capable of engaging targets up to 40 km away. The K9 Vajra-T cannon has been specifically adapted from the K9 Thunder– now built by Hanwha Aerospace– to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Army across diverse Indian terrains, including deserts and high-altitude mountainous regions. The K9 Vajra-T howitzer fires g K307 Base Bleed High Explosive (HE) rounds, and is capable of delivering a rapid burst of three rounds within 15 seconds, making it highly lethal in a battlefield. The advanced mobile artillery platform is designed to provide crucial fire support to infantry and armoured formations during combat. K9 Vajra-T batch to have more indigenous components According to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the new batch of K9 Vajra-T cannons will have around 60 percent of indigenously developed components, including Indian-built subsystems such as advanced fire control systems, communication equipment, and ammunition handling mechanisms. More than 50 percent of components in the first batch were indigenous, the MoD said. New K9 Vajra-T guns to have major upgrades According to repots, the new batch of K9 Vajra-T howitzer guns are likely to be augmented with some key upgrades, including the upgraded subsystems for enhanced performance. The contract also includes a Life Cycle Support Contract (LCSC), for which a Request for Proposal was issued in November last year, to ensure the long-term operational readiness and maintenance of these systems. The delivery is expected to begin towards the end of this year, and extend to through early 2028, until the Indian Army inducts a full 100 additional units of the K9 Vajra-T howitzers, which is part of its larger artillery modernization strategy to standardize its diverse gun systems to the 155mm/52-caliber specification by the year 2042.
Daily News Egypt
13-04-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, South Korea mark 30 years of deepening ties in trade, investment and defence
Egypt and South Korea today commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations, marking a period of significant growth in trade, investment, and defence cooperation. This anniversary, which falls in April 2025, provides an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of a partnership that has expanded from initial consular ties to a comprehensive cooperative framework. The relationship, formalised on 13 April 1995, followed the establishment of consular relations in 1961, with the opening of South Korea's consulate general in Cairo in 1962 and Egypt's in Seoul in 1991. The period since 1995 has seen the institutionalisation of cooperation through agreements and joint committees, including the Political Consultations Committee (1996) and the Joint Committee in communications and technology (2004). Trade Dynamics Bilateral trade volumes have fluctuated, with recent data indicating $2bn in 2023, down from $3.2bn in 2022. Discrepancies exist between reported figures, with Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reporting $3.9bn in 2022. Trade balances have also varied, with Egypt achieving a surplus in 2022, but data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) showing a deficit favouring South Korea in 2023. Egypt's primary exports include fuel and mineral oils, food industry waste, and stone and cement products. South Korea's exports to Egypt consist of plastics, vehicles, machinery, and electrical appliances. Ongoing feasibility studies for a bilateral free trade agreement and a memorandum of understanding on customs cooperation aim to further enhance trade. Investment Landscape South Korean investments in Egypt, totalling nearly $800m, focus on manufacturing, transportation, chemicals, and energy. Major investments include Samsung Electronics' manufacturing facility and Hyundai Rotem's involvement in the Cairo Metro. South Korea has also increased its soft loan pledge to Egypt from $1bn to $3bn. Egyptian investments in South Korea are comparatively lower. Bilateral investment treaties and double taxation avoidance agreements, alongside Egyptian incentive packages, facilitate investment flows. Defence and Security Cooperation Defence cooperation has become a key pillar of the relationship, with a $1.66bn deal for Egypt's acquisition of K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers from Hanwha Defense, including technology transfer and local manufacturing. Hanwha Systems is also exporting fire command systems to Egypt. Discussions are ongoing regarding the potential sale of KAI FA-50 light fighter aircraft. Agreements on defence industry cooperation and logistics support, alongside joint research and development, underscore a deepening strategic alliance. Egypt aims to modernise its military and diversify arms procurement, while South Korea views Egypt as a strategic gateway for defence exports. Diplomatic Engagements and Cultural Exchange Official statements and high-level visits, including President Moon Jae-in's visit to Egypt in 2022 and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's visit to South Korea in 2016, have strengthened bilateral ties. Egypt's participation in the Korea-Africa Summit in 2024 further solidified its strategic importance to South Korea. The growing popularity of Korean culture in Egypt, supported by the Korean Cultural Center in Cairo, fosters people-to-people connections. Egypt's strategic location and alignment with South Korea's expertise in smart infrastructure and digital governance further enhance the partnership. The 30th anniversary highlights the robust and evolving relationship between Egypt and South Korea, with potential for further growth in key sectors and continued collaboration on regional and global issues.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norway to nearly double its K9 howitzer fleet for around $534 million
PARIS — Norway plans to nearly double its fleet of self-propelled artillery, proposing to buy an additional 24 K9 Thunder howitzers from Hanwha Aerospace for a budget of 5.65 billion Norwegian kroner, or $534 million. The 155 mm howitzers will equip a new artillery battalion within the planned Finnmark brigade being set up to bolster Norway's defenses in the high north, according to a government proposal published on Friday. The purchase plan is part of 17 billion kroner in proposed spending that also includes more sea mine-clearing capability, new military trucks and spending on facilities. Norway already has 28 tracked K9 howitzers as well as 14 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles, and will exercise an option in its contract with Hanwha for the additional purchase, the government said. The spending plan still needs to be approved by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting. 'We are in a serious security policy situation,' Minister of Defence Tore Sandvik said. 'Therefore, we will now ask the Storting to approve significant investments in various parts of the Armed Forces to strengthen Norway's defense capability, in line with the ambitions of the long-term plan presented last year.' The Norwegian government in October last year proposed to raise the country's 2025 defense budget by 19.2 billion kroner to 110.1 billion kroner. The budget for the additional howitzers includes the guns as well as spare parts, according to the spending proposal. The acquisition of additional artillery pieces 'will contribute to significantly strengthening the Army's firepower,' the government said. The extra howitzers increase the total budget for the Norwegian 155 mm artillery project to 11.1 billion kroner, according to the government proposal. Other K9 operators in the Baltic region are Poland, Finland and Estonia. The government also plans to spend an additional 3.9 billion kroner on maritime mine countermeasures, increasing the total budget for that project to 8.74 billion kroner. The plan for the Norwegian Navy's future mine-clearing capability, first approved in 2023, will include unmanned and autonomous systems. The previously approved mine countermeasures capability was assessed as too small in relation to the operational needs of a new security situation, according to the government. Expanding the scope of the project will ensure sufficient resources to safeguard 'freedom of movement in Norwegian waters even in a crisis or war,' the government said. 'This will help to ensure that our own vessels and allies can sail safely and freely in Norwegian waters,' Sandvik said. 'In addition, it can help to secure critical underwater infrastructure.'
Korea Herald
03-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Foreign envoys witness — and ride — Korea's K2 tank, K9 howitzer in action
CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — Foreign ambassadors and diplomats from 15 countries climbed aboard the K2 Black Panther tank and K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer for a ride during a visit to production facilities, where they witnessed the assembly process firsthand. The Foreign Ministry-led tour provided diplomats with an A-to-Z and behind-the-scenes look at Korea's homegrown defense systems — from the assembly line on the factory floor to a live demo of how they performed in the field. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun hosted a two-day event, inviting diplomatic delegations to tour the defense production plants of Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Aerospace in the city of Changwon on Wednesday as well as Korea Aerospace Industries in the city of Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Thursday. Eight ambassadors from Greece, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Thailand and Uzbekistan, as well as Polish Acting Ambassador to South Korea Artur Gradziuk, took part in the tour. Also in attendance were the Deputy Heads of Mission from Iraq and Peru; defense attaches from Australia, Colombia and the Philippines; and a political counselor from Vietnam. "I find the visits to be a very impressive demonstration of Korea's advanced defense technology and innovation," Tanee Sangrat, Thailand's ambassador to South Korea, told The Korea Herald. "As a close partner of Korea, Thailand's armed forces and private sector collaborate with Korean corporations on current maintenance and repairs, as well as future acquisitions." The core message of the tour was simple: South Korea's homegrown weapons systems are characterized not only by their exceptional performance — developed over decades against existential threats from North Korea — but also by the country's unmatched capacity for mass production and ability to provide integrated maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, support. 'We possess an unprecedentedly fast and comprehensive system for supplying tanks, unmatched globally,' Kim Doo-hong, Hyundai Rotem's chief financial officer, told the diplomatic corps. "We have achieved an operational readiness rate close to 100 percent for equipment used by the Korean military due to our fully integrated logistics support system." The diplomatic corps explored Korea's high-tech defense production on a tour of Hyundai Rotem, where K2 Black Panther tanks are assembled and produced. The tanks are scheduled for delivery to Poland and Peru, as Hyundai Rotem signed a contract with Peru's FAME SAC in November 2024 — the first K2 export to the Latin American continent — and a 2022 framework agreement with Poland to deliver 180 units by the end of this year. At Hanwha Aerospace, the assembly process of the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer was observed. The ambassadors and diplomats were briefed on the streamlined production process — it takes only 100 working days to manufacture a K9 howitzer from the initial welding stage to final testing. In a white-knuckle finish, pairs of diplomats rode the K2 Black Panther tank and K9 Thunder howitzer: one taking the commander's seat while the other sat in the gunner's. The K2 tank and K9 howitzer tore across an open field with tight turns and sudden, fast accelerations, allowing foreign diplomats to experience the mobility and power of home-grown weaponry of South Korea in all its might. Kang rode in the gunner's seat of the K2 tank with Saudi Ambassador to South Korea Sami M. Alsadhan, who sat in the commander's seat. 'It was a meaningful opportunity to witness firsthand the production process of Korea's weapons systems,' Alsadhan said, expressing hopes for continued progress in Korea–Saudi Arabia defense industry cooperation. The diplomatic corps members and ambassadors appeared visibly impressed with the speed and agility of the K2 tank and K9 howitzer, providing a thumbs-up of appreciation. One of the ambassadors who rode the K2 said it was "Faster than I expected." Those riding the K9 howitzer were given a taste of the vehicle's mobility as it traversed the open field at its top speed of 67 kilometers per hour. The diplomatic corps also had the opportunity to ride in an FA-50 light combat aircraft on the tarmac and production site of South Korea's first homegrown KF-21 fighter, which recently commenced mass production, during their Thursday visit to KAI. The Foreign Ministry said it would spearhead tailored diplomatic efforts to position Korea among the world's top four defense exporters by 2027. 'The Korean government is making every effort to provide diplomatic support to enhance defense cooperation with a wide range of countries,' Kang said, calling for the diplomatic corps to show strong interest in advancing defense industry cooperation with South Korea.
South China Morning Post
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
China and South Korea go head to head at IDEX in self-propelled howitzer market
Published: 2:30pm, 19 Feb 2025 Competition between China and South Korea is heating up for sales of self-propelled howitzers, with defence contractors from both countries putting their latest versions front and centre at one of the world's biggest weapons shows. China's Norinco is offering the public a look at its SH16A 155mm self-propelled howitzer at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi this week. The event in the United Arab Emirates is the first time the howitzer has gone on show outside China since its debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in November. A few metres away, South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace is showing the latest version of its K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer fitted with a South Korean engine for the first time. Earlier models had German engines. Self-propelled howitzers are playing a bigger role in conflicts between official and non-state forces, particularly in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia shelled Iran-backed Houthi rebels with the weapons, including Norinco's PLZ-45, during the Yemeni civil war in 2015. Israel has also reportedly used American M109 self-propelled howitzers against Hamas during the war in Gaza.
