K-9 "Thunder" – the South Korean/ Polish self-propelled 155 mm caliber howitzer

In the second half of the 1980s the South Korean armed forces began searching for a modern self-propelled artillery system, armed with a 155 mm howitzer with a 52 caliber length barrel, which was to replace the aging American M109. The purchase of German “Panzerhaubitze” or the acquisition of a license to produce the British AS90 were considered as options, but in the end it was decided to design and manufacture this weapon in-house and thus reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. The requirements were approved in 1988, and work on the system itself began in 1991. In 1996 the first machine was handed over for testing,  on December 22, 1998 a contract was signed for the supply of a new SAP. That year the gun received the military designation K9 and the first machines were delivered in 1999. The K9 was first used in combat conditions, when North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010. 4 guns returned fire on the North Korean attack. A slightly modified K9 chassis was used in the Polish self-propelled howitzer AHS "Krab", after it became clear, that the chassis, designed by the Poles themselves, did not meet their own requirements. In 2014 an agreement was signed between “Huta Stalowa” and “Hanwha Techwin” for the assembly of 120 Polish self-propelled howitzers on licensed chassis. After Russia's attack on Ukraine, the Polish Ministry of People's Defense announced in July 2022 its intention to purchase K9 "Thunder" howitzers, because it could not quickly produce the required number of "Krab". This decision was met with a lot of criticism in the media due to the fact, that it was buying something, that Polish industry itself was already successfully producing. On July 27, 2022 Poland signed a contract for the purchase of 672 K9A/K9Pl, of which 212 units were confirmed in the August order for $ 2.4 billion, along with ammunition, training and logistics packages. These howitzers were integrated into the Polish communications and fire control systems ZZKO "Topas" and were delivered by 2026, of which the first 24 K9A1s were delivered in 2022 (and delivered). Another 460 machines, adapted to Polish requirements K9PL, are to be manufactured in Poland and have all the changes, that are in the K9A2 version, including automatic loading, a crew of 4 people. The K9 has a steel structure, resistant to fire from 14.5 mm guns and 152 mm shell fragments. It also protects against the effects of anti-personnel mine explosions. The main weapon is a 152 mm caliber 52 caliber long cannon - howitzer, the maximum firing range of which is 40 km. The machine is equipped with a 1000 hp engine, hydropneumatics suspension, which has proven itself very well in the mountainous environment of Korea. The machine is also equipped with protection systems against nuclear, bacteriological and chemical weapons. K9 is adapted to the "MRSI" firing type - it fires 3 shells at different barrel angles within 5 seconds, but so that all shells reach the target at the same time.

Although it looks complicated, the model is not. It is perfectly designed and almost maximally detailed, it will suit both medium-experienced and experienced modelers. But, as we mentioned, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, carefully and thoroughly, without rushing, but simplifying something, this model will suit both advanced beginners and modelers with little experience. The model does not have engine compartment detailing, but the hull, chassis, suspension, armament, all external details and other equipment are perfectly reproduced, the tracks are either from separate tracks or strip tracks. Beautiful spotted camouflage of the Polish Armed Forces. There are a few colors reserves, but not many. The textual instruction in Polish is not very extensive, explaining only the most complex stages of assembling the model and perfectly complement the large, informative and easy-to-read graphical instruction.