Poland Receives Fourth Shipment of 18 K9A1 Self-Propelled Howitzers
18 December, 2023 K9A1 self-propelled guns for the Polish army, October 2023. Poland. Photo credits: Armed Forces of Poland
Eighteen more K9A1 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea arrived in Poland. The press service of the Polish Army reported on this. The self-propelled howitzers were delivered by sea to the port of the Polish city of Gdynia.
The ship arrived on December 17, 2023. This is the fourth batch of South Korean K9A1 self-propelled howitzers delivered to Poland. Howitzers were sent from South Korea on October 20, 2023.
K9A1 self-propelled howitzers for Poland, October 2023.
Photo credits: Hanwha
With the receipt of this batch, the Polish military will now possess a total of 66 K9 self-propelled howitzers as part of a £2.4 billion agreement signed in August 2022. According to the agreement between the Polish Arms Agency and the South Korean defense company Hanwha Defense, a total of 212 howitzers will be supplied to the Polish army in 2022-2026. The initial 48 self-propelled howitzers delivered were pre-owned, and outdated parts were replaced before shipment.
Already in Poland, the artillery systems were being fitted with domestic Topaz Integrated Combat Management Systems and Fonet Digital Communication Platforms. The manufacturer's labeling was also being changed from English to Polish. Another 164 howitzers are being manufactured from scratch for Poland.
The shipment, which arrived on Sunday, December 17, is the first delivery of the new K9A1 howitzers.
The first K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers in Poland. December 2022. Photo credits: Polish Ministry of National Defence
In addition, on December 1, 2023, Poland ordered 152 more Korean K9 self-propelled howitzers in two versions.
The contract, worth £2.6 billion, provides for the purchase of six more K9A1 self-propelled howitzers in 2025 and 146 K9PL self-propelled howitzers in 2026-2027 for the Polish Army.
The order also includes a training and logistics package and the supply of tens of thousands of 155 mm artillery shells.
The logistics package includes spare parts and additional auxiliary equipment.