Skip to content
Welcome, thoughtbot's Giant Robots listeners!Start here
K9 Thunder
AI-generated illustration
ProductKR

K9 Thunder

Hanwha's 155mm self-propelled howitzer

The K9 Thunder won Australian orders and brought Hanwha local assembly at Geelong from 23 August 2024. Hanwha is now repeating that pattern with ground robots, buying two Milrem THeMIS vehicles in October 2026.

Last refreshed: 7 October 2026

Timeline for K9 Thunder

#13 7 Oct

Mentioned in: Hanwha buys two Milrem THeMIS robots

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea
View full timeline →

Background

The K9 Thunder is Hanwha's tracked 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer. It can fire at ranges beyond 40km and move off before counter-battery fire arrives. By February 2023 it served with South Korea, Norway, Estonia, Finland, Poland, India and Turkey, with Australia and Egypt on order.

Australia ordered 30 AS9 Huntsman howitzers, its K9 variant, and 15 AS10 supply vehicles in December 2021. Hanwha opened its Geelong factory to build them on 23 August 2024, turning an export win into local production.

The K9 is Hanwha's main land-systems export, and its user base gives the company a route into new markets. Hanwha is applying the same approach to ground robots: in October 2026 it bought two Milrem THeMIS robots, one for its Australian operation, and agreed to bid with Milrem for Romania's robot programme.

Common Questions
Which countries use the K9 Thunder howitzer?
By February 2023: South Korea, Norway, Estonia, Finland, Poland, India and Turkey, with Australia and Egypt on order.Source: https://euro-sd.com/2023/02/news/29563/k9-user-club-meets-for-first-time-in-europe/
What is the range of the K9 Thunder?
More than 40km, from a 155mm/52-calibre gun.Source: https://euro-sd.com/2023/02/news/29563/k9-user-club-meets-for-first-time-in-europe/
Where is Australia's version of the K9 built?
Hanwha builds the AS9 Huntsman at its Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Geelong, opened on 23 August 2024.Source: https://euro-sd.com/2024/08/major-news/39979/hanwha-opens-h-ace-in-geelong/
Source Material
Hanwha opens H-ACE in GeelongK9 User Club meets for first time in Europe