El Sistema de Artiller\u00eda Autopropulsado K-9\u00a0\u201cThunder\u201d desarrollado y producido por Corea del Sur, es reconocido por sus buenas prestaciones y performance, m\u00e1s de 1.000 unidades est\u00e1n en servicio en su ej\u00e9rcito y ha sido exportado adem\u00e1s a muchos pa\u00edses. Sin embargo, las nuevas tendencias se orientan a obtener mayores alcances de la artiller\u00eda, dotarla de sistemas aut\u00f3nomos de carga, as\u00ed como m\u00e1s movilidad y\u00a0supervivencia. Por esta raz\u00f3n la Agencia de Desarrollo para la Defensa de ese pa\u00eds, inici\u00f3 un importante programa de modernizaci\u00f3n, que se ha impuesto como objetivo prioritario duplicar el alcance actual del arma (40 km), de manera tal que el K-9 contin\u00fae siendo un producto competitivo en el mercado global de defensa.<\/p>\n
South Korea has started a new weapon acquisition program to double the shooting range of the K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer, one of its key weapons exports.<\/p>\n
According to military sources on Sunday, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) will invest about $38 million over the next 60 months till August 2027 for upgrade in super long-range cannon.<\/p>\n
The artillery\u2019s projectile has a range about 40 kilometers, unchanged since its initial development despite performance upgrades in other vehicle parts.<\/p>\n
The project has been launched amid rising demand for greater shooting range in response to potential rival products in the global defense market and growing artillery threats from North Korea.<\/p>\n
The United States has run an Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) acquisition program to develop the XM1299 howitzer that can fire munitions 70 to 100 kilometers. Germany is seeking much longer range. Russia already achieved a 70-kilometer range with a new howitzer model, the 2S35, while China\u2019s PL205 can fire munitions 53 kilometers. North Korea is known to be equipped with cannons and howitzers with a shooting range of over 60 kilometers.<\/p>\n
South Korean defense authorities have yet to reveal the K-9\u2019s shooting range target, but it may be doubled from current level.<\/p>\n
The ADD is currently developing a reloading automation system and remote operation technology that increases the rate of fire from 6 rounds per minute to 9 rounds per minute. Upon completion, the new technology will be applied to the K-9A2, the successor to the currently deployed K-9A1.<\/p>\n
South Korea has 1,100 units of the K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer and has exported the models to many countries, including Poland, Turkey, Egypt, India, Finland, Australia, Norway, and Estonia.<\/p>\n
K9 Thunder is currently manufactured by Hanwha Defense.<\/p>\n