Poland Completes Delivery of 212 K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers Under First Contract
Poland has completed the delivery of all 212 K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers under its first executive contract with South Korea’s Hanwha Defense. The deliveries mark a key step in restoring and modernizing Polish artillery capabilities.
The Polish Armed Forces have completed the delivery of all 212 K9A1 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer sunder the first executive contract signed with South Korea’s Hanwha Defense, marking a key milestone in Poland’s ongoing artillery modernisation programme.
Confirmation of the final delivery batch was provided by Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State at Poland’s Ministry of National Defence. The last systems were transferred to the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade of the 16th Mechanized Division, completing the contract valued at approximately USD 2.4 billion. The previous delivery of 21 howitzers took place in mid-November.
The completed contract forms part of a broader framework agreement signed in 2022, under which Poland plans to acquire a total of 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers. The initial batch of 212 systems consists of the K9A1 configuration, manufactured in South Korea and delivered on an accelerated schedule to rapidly restore artillery capabilities.
At a later stage, the delivered howitzers are set to be upgraded to the K9PL standard, a variant being developed jointly by specialists from Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and Hanwha Defense. In parallel, Poland plans to domestically manufacture approximately 460 additional K9PL systems at a new production facility, with local production scheduled to begin in 2026.
The agreement also covers supporting assets, including K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (ARV) and K11 Fire Direction Center Vehicles (FDCV), which provide automated ammunition resupply and command support for artillery units.
The rapid induction of South Korean artillery systems has played a central role in addressing capability gaps within the Polish Army, which emerged after significant transfers of self-propelled artillery to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. For Polish service, the K9 platforms are being adapted to national requirements, including integration with Polish command-and-control systems, positioning solutions, and the TOPAZ automated fire-control system, enabling interoperability with existing Polish artillery command vehicles.
In parallel, Poland is implementing a second executive contract worth approximately USD 2.6 billion, covering the delivery of an additional 152 K9 howitzers. This batch includes six K9A1 units and 146 K9PL systems, further expanding the Polish Army’s long-range firepower.
The K9 Thunder is a modern 155 mm self-propelled artillery system equipped with a 52-calibre barrel, an armoured chassis, and an advanced automated fire-control system. It offers a firing range of up to 40 km with standard ammunition and over 50 km with rocket-assisted projectiles, positioning it among the most capable artillery systems currently in service in Europe.
