ORIGINAL LINK : https://blog.naver.com/PostView.naver?blogId=rgm84d&logNo=223301001883
This is the K9A2 self-propelled gun for UK export revealed by Hanwha Aerospace. The size of the turret has been enlarged compared to the existing K9A1, and the combat weight has also increased to XX tons.
Military Review Issue 2401 provides a detailed analysis of the successful export of the K9A2 to Poland, as well as Korean Army’s artillery technology for export.
On December 4, 2023, the Polish Minister of Defense signed a contract to purchase an additional 6 K9A1 self-propelled guns and 146 K9PL self-propelled guns, which are the Polish version of the K9A2, and then resigned from the position of Minister of Defense.
Following the first contract signed in August 2022, which ordered 212 K9A1 self-propelled guns, an additional 6 K9A1s and 146 K9PLs were ordered, bringing the total number of K9 series self-propelled guns exported to Poland to 364.
The Polish Ministry of Defense announced that the delivery of the 6 K9A1s is expected in 2025, and the 146 K9PL self-propelled guns are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2027. The newly ordered K9 self-propelled guns are planned to be equipped with the Topaz fire control system, which was installed on the previously ordered K9s, and the Obra laser warning device (LWR), reflecting the lessons learned from the Ukraine war.
On the right is the former Polish Minister of Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, and the last document he signed was the purchase of the K9PL (A2) self-propelled gun.
Possibility of additional exports…
But this is not the end. In July 2022, a basic contract for the supply of up to 672 K9A1/K9PL self-propelled guns was signed with Poland, so there is a high possibility of additional exports if the political issues within Poland and the AHS Krab self-propelled gun issue are resolved.
In addition to the K9 self-propelled gun, Poland is also introducing a 54km-class composite propulsion projectile through Korea and is pushing for a project to build an ammunition production plant.
Complex internal situation in Poland
The K9 self-propelled guns exported to Poland are being successfully operated with good reviews from the Polish Army, but there is also considerable opposition within Poland.
Despite the existence of the domestic(?) AHS Krab self-propelled gun in Poland, there is also opposition to the introduction of Korean-made self-propelled guns. And the right-wing party, which had led the project to introduce Korean-made weapons in response to security issues, lost in the general election in October 2023, and the government was replaced by a left-wing party for the first time in eight years.
On the left is the Polish Minister of Defense, and on the right is the president of HSW, which is producing the Krab. After the president of HSW made a ridiculous comment that the Polish military is favoring Korean-made self-propelled guns over the domestically produced Krab, which has superior performance, they are seen having an awkward conversation.
The left-wing parties that won the election prioritize cooperation with the EU and prefer domestic weapons systems if possible, so there are also analyses that the red light for the export of K9PL self-propelled guns and K2PL tanks has grown bigger.
However, due to practical reasons, i.e., the limitations of Poland’s defense industry and the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war, there is a strong argument that the new Polish government has no choice but to choose Korean-made weapons.
Military Review Issue 2401 provides a detailed analysis of why the Polish Armament Agency (Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration) chose the K9A1 and K9PL, and how much potential there is for additional exports.
However, due to the lack of space in the Military Review, we were able to sufficiently explain the advantages of the K9A2 for export to Poland, but we were unable to sufficiently explain the Polish Krab self-propelled gun, so we will supplement the Polish Krab self-propelled gun, which was not properly reflected.
This is the Soviet-made 122mm 2S1(Gvozdika) self-propelled gun currently operated by the Polish Army. It needs to be retired as soon as possible.
The emergence of the Polish Krab self-propelled gun
The AHS Krab (Krab) self-propelled gun was developed for the Polish Army with HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola) as the center to replace the outdated Soviet-made 122mm 2S1 (Gvozdika) self-propelled gun. In Polish, AHS means self-propelled gun, and Krab (Krab) means crab.
In the early stages of development, Poland considered independently developing a new self-propelled gun with only domestic companies, but gave up because the domestic companies had no experience in developing self-propelled guns.
Eventually, Poland decided to develop a new 155mm self-propelled gun by importing a self-propelled gun turret system equipped with a 52-caliber 155mm howitzer of Western standards from abroad and then combining it with a track chassis developed domestically.
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