The K9 Thunder is a modern South Korean tracked self-propelled gun. The first prototypes of this vehicle were manufactured in 1996, and in 1999, serial production began, which continues to this day. The vehicle is equipped with a 1000 hp MTU MT 881 Ka-500 engine. It is armed with a 155 mm L52 cannon and one 12.7 mm K6 HMG machine gun.
The first work on the K9 Thunder artillery system began in 1989 at the Samsung Techwin plant (now: Hanwha Techwin). The first K9s entered service with the South Korean army in 1999. Vehicles of this type are characterized by high off-road mobility, have hydropneumatic suspension and a very good power-to-weight ratio of the vehicle. They are protected by steel plate armor, which protects them from small-caliber firearms up to 14.5 mm in caliber and from artillery fragments. The K9 also has increased survivability in the event of an anti-personnel or anti-tank mine detonation. The maximum range of the K9 Thunder's main armament reaches 30,000 meters when firing a conventional high-explosive shell and exceeds 50,000 meters when firing a K315 shell. The K9 is also capable of firing in MRSI mode, i.e. it fires a salvo of 3 missiles with an interval of 5 seconds at different barrel elevation angles, so that all 3 missiles hit the target simultaneously. K9 vehicles have been sold to Turkey, where - after modernization - they serve as the T-155 Firtina. The K9 Thunder chassis also became the basis for the Polish Krab howitzer and is manufactured under license at the Huta Stalowa Wola plant.
