⚙ Poland are due to receive the first 24 K9A1's from Korea. Great news for Poland and NATO!
But this isn't the rapid/advanced Artillery program being promoted and it's nothing like the K9A2 being offered to the UK, which is a red flag for the UK.
Read on. #artillerytwitter
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But this isn't the rapid/advanced Artillery program being promoted and it's nothing like the K9A2 being offered to the UK, which is a red flag for the UK.
Read on. #artillerytwitter
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⚠ DISCLAIMER: I have no horse in this race other than wishing the best for the British Army. Neither I, nor my family, benefit from MPF, the manufacturers of any MPF entrants, the Army, or any of their partners.
Poland signed a "framework agreement" with Korea to build 672 K9PL locally. These are based on the latest K9A2 howitzers and should develop local industrially.
This is great, I hope Poland get there. Really do.
But this is *not* what Poland are receiving.
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This is great, I hope Poland get there. Really do.
But this is *not* what Poland are receiving.
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Poland have executed a contract for 212 refurbished K9A1 options all to be supplied from Korea. Not locally.
Further, refurbished K9A1's are upgraded K9 Thunder's from the ROKA's own stocks of 1,300 built since the 1990's.
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Further, refurbished K9A1's are upgraded K9 Thunder's from the ROKA's own stocks of 1,300 built since the 1990's.
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It is these older K9 stocks that have also been refurbished for Finland, Estonia and, in Norway's case, upgraded.
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Of the 212 that Poland have executed, 48 have been exercised.
12 of the first delivery is a redirected delivery originally intended for the ROKA.
36 remaining (12 complete) are again refurbished from K9's.
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12 of the first delivery is a redirected delivery originally intended for the ROKA.
36 remaining (12 complete) are again refurbished from K9's.
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Korea aren't universally happy about all of this with questions about the "K-Defense Controversy" and "[Military] Power Vacuum" redirecting ROKA stores has being raised in the National Assembly and Korean Press.
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There are no plans yet in place detailing how Poland will manufacture their remaining K9A2-based K9PL's locally, nor upgrade these refurbished K9A1's being delivered now.
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As for the K9A1 and the K9A2 being offered to the UK, the K9A1 lacks the autoloader, advanced FCS and new barrel amongst others.
These are features in the K9A2, of which there is currently only one, the prototype, shown at DVD this year with temporary Union Jacks applied.
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These are features in the K9A2, of which there is currently only one, the prototype, shown at DVD this year with temporary Union Jacks applied.
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The proposed K9A2 bears superficial resemblance to the K9, K9A1 and K9A1-based AS9. It will differ at the component level to K9PL, when that is built, and the ROKA's own K9A2, when that is also built.
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The deal-breaker for me on K9 is that the Hyunday CN98 155mm gun and barrels will be made in Korea. That's 5,500 miles away, if you fly over China and Russia directly.
Unless this gun and spare barrels are made in the UK, this offer is a huge risk to future supply.
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Unless this gun and spare barrels are made in the UK, this offer is a huge risk to future supply.
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Refurbished K9's to K9A1 standard or close are great for rapidly boosting artillery numbers.
Australia license-building their own K9A1-based AS9 is doubly great for Korea and Australia's resiliency of supply.
I truly hope Poland get their local manufacturing off the mark.
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Australia license-building their own K9A1-based AS9 is doubly great for Korea and Australia's resiliency of supply.
I truly hope Poland get their local manufacturing off the mark.
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But for the UK, who desperately need to increase *Battery* numbers, *not* simply Howitzer numbers, who need automation, Expeditionary vehicles and security of critical component supply to achieve it?
K9A2 is a big risk.
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K9A2 is a big risk.
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If we're going to gamble, gamble on what will increase Battery numbers, doing the job with fewer personnel and vehicles overall.
Hedge bets an autoloader and gun built closer to the UK that is being used in a war right now. Not one where they exist on a single prototype.
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Hedge bets an autoloader and gun built closer to the UK that is being used in a war right now. Not one where they exist on a single prototype.
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We can do better than a conventional howitzer that costs no less and will allow us to field more, further, faster, with less headaches in arranging transportation when needed.
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Apologies for the earlier typo: Hyundai.
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BONUS: Between 54-60 (reports differ) of Poland's 672 K9 "framework agreement" with Korea are for AHS Krab chassis, not whole K9's, presumably for Ukraine, which are original K9 based chassis with an AS-90 turret and Nexter 52/cal barrel.
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Correction: China, Russia *and* North Korea. As the crow flies.
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https://twitter.com/TotherChris/status/1584655600000339969
*will not
Clarification: The contract for 212 refurbished K9A1 options supplied from Korea are part of the 672 number in the “framework agreement” whole, as well as the 54-60 additional Krab chassis licenses.
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https://twitter.com/TotherChris/status/1584655576465780736
/FIN
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