K9 rolls on as Egypt unveils systems, Australia fires and Vietnam and Norway place orders
The Australian Army fired its new AS9 Huntsman SPH on home soil for the first time on 1 December. (Photo: Australian Department of Defence)
Hanwha Aerospace’s tracked K9 Thunder 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer has had notable success in the market over the past few years in Europe and Asia, with Poland alone ordering 316 systems.
Hanwha Aerospace has chalked up major milestones in deliveries of its K9 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) in the past few days, with Australian soldiers conducting first firings on home soil and Egypt demonstrating that its K9s are in service.
This follows hot on the heels of Norway ordering more systems in September and Vietnam placing an order in July, the latter meaning more than 1,300 of the systems have been ordered by 11 countries. Other countries which have placed contracts are India, Romania, Poland, Finland, Turkey, Estonia and South Korea.
Known in Australian service as the AS9 Huntsman, the country’s army is to
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![Early prototype of General Dynamics M1E3 main battle tank displayed at Detroit auto show]()
Early prototype of General Dynamics M1E3 main battle tank displayed at Detroit auto show
The first prototype M1E3 main battle tank was handed over to the US Army for testing and evaluation earlier this year, and now a pre-prototype has been unveiled. What have we learned from the vehicle first seen on 14 January?
-
![Bulgaria to receive first Strykers in February as part of force equipment refresh]()
Bulgaria to receive first Strykers in February as part of force equipment refresh
The delivery of the Stryker infantry fighting vehicles will form one piece of the country’s effort to re-equip its forces, which includes F-16 fighter jets and new air defence systems.
-
![Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx fighting vehicles set for first taste of combat in Ukraine]()
Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx fighting vehicles set for first taste of combat in Ukraine
A June 2024 agreement with Ukraine for Rheinmetall to provide 10 KF41s along with the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the country has moved a step closer, with the factory now built and a contract signed.
-
![Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows]()
Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows
Germany’s move to buy Israel Aerospace Industries’ Arrow missile defence system became public in mid-2023 with approval from the US government shortly after. The first operational system is expected to be in service before 2030.
-
![Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned]()
Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned
Procurement of various short-range systems will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with additional procurements to be made later in the year.
