韩华航空航天在第五届K9用户俱乐部展示无人机引导K9打击概念及K9MH轮式自行火炮

Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS) has proposed a new artillery operating concept in which drones locate targets and K9 self-propelled howitzers carry out precision strikes.
The company unveiled the combined operating concept, which links vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fire-guiding drones with K9 howitzers, at the fifth K9 User Club, which opened in Tartu, Estonia, on the 2nd. The gathering of countries that operate the K9 drew about 200 military and industry officials, the largest turnout to date, including seven operator nations — South Korea, Poland, Norway, Finland, Romania and Australia among them — as well as observer countries including Spain and Sweden.
Under the proposed concept, an airborne fire-guiding drone detects and tracks a target and generates coordinates, the K9 fires immediately, and the drone then observes the point of impact and assesses damage. The approach shortens the "sensor-to-shooter" time between identifying a target and firing, improving response against moving and time-sensitive targets.
Participants also showed strong interest in a wheeled self-propelled howitzer built with core K9 technologies. The K9MH, which combines a fully automated turret with a wheeled platform, was selected as a prototype for the U.S. Army's wheeled self-propelled howitzer program. In U.S. Army performance evaluations, the K9MH demonstrated a rapid-fire capability of nine automatically fired rounds within one minute. Hanwha Aerospace plans to extend K9 technology to a range of platforms, including wheeled versions, to broaden its technical scalability while offering artillery systems tailored to each customer's operating environment and mobility requirements.
A digital logistics support system aimed at raising K9 availability rates was also introduced. Its centerpiece is TSP, which handles everything from parts quotation requests to ordering and delivery information in a single digital environment. Order information for 700 to 800 major items has been compiled into a digital catalog, allowing operator nations to quickly check and order the parts and information they need. The company plans to link TSP with a parts warehouse it is building in Poland to shorten parts delivery times for European K9 operators. Over the longer term, it aims to develop the system into "predictive logistics support" that uses artificial intelligence and data analysis to examine parts consumption, maintenance and operating data, forecast demand and supply parts when needed.
"Hanwha Aerospace will work more closely with operator nations to strengthen interoperability, and will raise the operating efficiency and reliability of the K9 across its entire life cycle through digital and AI-based innovation in logistics support," said Bae Jin-gyu, head of the company's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) division.
Separately, Hanwha Aerospace held a side event the same day attended by about 40 officials from countries that operate the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, where participants shared experience in fielding and maintaining the system. Based on those discussions, the company plans to host the first official Chunmoo User Club in South Korea next year. The sixth K9 User Club will be held in Australia next year.