South Korean company Hanwha Defense Co. successfully confirmed the compatibility of K9 Thunder self-propelled guns with American ammunition.

The demonstration took place on September 14 at a training ground in Yuma, Arizona. The results of the tests were seen by more than 60 invited guests from the U.S. Army and allied countries.

This is stated in the Hanwha Defense press release.

The K9A1 ACS and K10 ARV ammunition resupply vehicle were tested for use with U.S. 155mm M795 ammunition, XM1113 Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP), and Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) charges.

The demonstration began with a test of the capabilities of the ARV K10 showcased the replenishment of self-propelled guns thanks to the automatic system.

K9A1 ACS proved its maneuverability and proprietary ability to “shoot and run.” The gun quickly completed the task and moved from a firing position to another location. During these shootings, M795 shells were used.

In the final segment of the event, K9A1 fired a XM1113 RAP that reached a range of more than 50 km. So the U.S. Army first tested XM1113 with foreign artillery systems.

The live demonstration was conducted as part of the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), signed in 2021 to assess the feasibility, performance and capability of transporting and firing American ammunition from Hanwha artillery platforms.

“The demonstration successfully accomplished all CRADA objectives by outlining the full interoperability of the K9 and K10 vehicles with American ammunition and charges, in addition to the extended firing range and high rate of fire of the K9 system,” said John Kelly, President and CEO of Hanwha Defense USA.

The equipment that participated in the tests will be demonstrated at the AUSA 2022 arms exhibition, which will open on October 10 in Washington. It is there that the Combat Capabilities Development Center (DEVCOM AC) and the military will discuss opportunities for future cooperation with Hanwha Defense.

K9 Thunder is a modern 155mm self-propelled artillery system manufactured in South Korea and is in service in a number of countries that have purchased the installation or manufactured it under license.

The range of the K9 ACS reaches about 40 km, the maximum speed of the combat vehicle is 67 km/h. The crew of the combat vehicle amounts to 5 members and the deployment time is 30 seconds.