More pieces of the self-propelled howitzer K9 to the Army

More pieces of the self-propelled 155-mm howitzer K9 will be procured for the Army. The procurement will significantly improve the firepower of the Army.

Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen has approved the proposal by the Finnish Defence Forces concerning redeeming the procurement option for the self-propelled howitzer K9. The Cabinet Finance Committee was in favour of the procurement acquisition at its session on 17.11.2022.
Including altogether 38 pieces of the self-propelled howitzer, the acquisition option now becomes fully redeemed.

In 2017, Finland procured pieces of the self-propelled howitzer K9 for the first time as part of inter-state trade from the Government of South Korea operated Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency KOTRA.  Concerning altogether 48 pieces of the self-propelled howitzer, the trade agreement included an option for the procurement of 48 pieces of the self-propelled howitzer of which 10 have been procured for the Army so far.

–This additional procurement will significantly improve the firepower of the Army. Key advantage to this system is that it combines elements of mobility, force protection and firepower. As such, the self-propelled howitzer has turned out to be reliable and provided excellently validated use case experiences both relating to training persons liable for military service and conducting fires, Inspector of Artillery, Colonel Pertti Holma from the Army Command says.

In the Armoured Brigade and in the Karelia Brigade, conscripts are provided training in using the self-propelled howitzer. 

The total value of the procurement is c. 134 million euros and it will be funded from the state’s amending budget that included additional funding for rapidly launched defence materiel procurement.

To familiarise with the self-propelled howitzer, see the Finnish Defence Forces’ equipment catalogue. 

The MOD issued a release on the procurement 18.11.2022.