K9 Moukari (Thunder) SPH

K9 Moukari (Thunder) SPH

Type: Self-Propelled Howitzer

Domain: land

Country of Origin: Finland

Manufacturer: Hanwha Defense / Patria

Overview

South Korean K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzer adopted by Finland as K9 Moukari (Finnish for "sledgehammer"), dramatically upgrading Finnish artillery firepower. Finland selected K9 in 2017 to replace aging Soviet-era 2S1 and 2S5 self-propelled guns, ordering 48 systems with deliveries 2020-2024. The K9 features a fully automated ammunition handling system with 48 ready rounds, rate of fire of 3 rounds in 15 seconds or 6-8 rounds/minute sustained, maximum range of 40+ km with base-bleed ammunition or 50+ km with rocket-assisted projectiles, shoot-and-scoot capability (deploy, fire, displace in under 5 minutes), crew of 5 in climate-controlled cabin, and advanced fire control system with GPS/INS, ballistic computer, and automatic gun-laying. Powered by MTU diesel producing 1,000 hp for road speed of 67 km/h. Weight of 47 tonnes. Finnish K9s feature modifications for Arctic operations including improved cold-weather starting, heating systems, and communication systems. The K9 provides Finnish artillery with modern automated firepower vastly superior to Soviet-era systems. Finland has also acquired K10 ammunition resupply vehicles. Combat-proven in multiple conflicts. K9 is one of the most successful artillery exports globally.

Technical Specifications

Crew3 + 2 (autoloaded)
Width3.4 m
EngineMTU diesel, 1,000 hp
Height2.73 m
Length12.0 m
Weight47.5 tonnes (combat)
Main gun155 mm L52 cannon
Max range40 km (standard), 56 km (Excalibur)
Max speed67 km/h
Rate of fire6-8 rounds/min (sustained 3 rpm)

Operators

Related land Weapon Systems