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On 12 December 2022 in Wegorzewo, the head of the Ministry of Defence met with soldiers of the 16th Mechanised Division to which the first Korean K9 howitzers were delivered.
“Soldiers of the hitherto 11th Artillery Regiment, from today the 1st Mazurian Artillery Brigade received modern equipment. The Russian aggression against Ukraine confirmed how important it is for the Polish Army to be strong. How important it is that it is equipped with modern and effective weapons. It is about deterring the aggressor and creating a situation in which he will not dare to attack Poland. He will not dare to do so when the Polish Army is strong. We are effectively and efficiently reinforcing the Polish Army, which is proven by these 24 K9 howitzers imported from South Korea,”
Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said during the handover of the first K9 howitzers to the Polish Army.
Deputy Prime Minister Błaszczak informed that the 11th Artillery Regiment, based on the equipment received, is in the process of being transformed into the 1st Mazurian Artillery Brigade.
The framework agreement concluded with Hanwha Defense covers the acquisition of a total of 672 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers and their version of K9PL, associated vehicles, i.e., technical protection vehicles, and engineering support vehicles. The agreement includes also other elements based on Polish solutions, as well as a training and logistics package, ammunition stock and technical support from the manufacturer.
“In a very short period, we negotiated with our Korean partner very good conditions for equipping the Polish Army with these weapons. We are aware that the Polish arms industry produces very similar weapons, but our needs are so great that we have to meet these needs in a short time. In the longer term, through cooperation with the Korean industry, a joint project will be created that will meet the needs of both the Polish Army and the Korean Army,”
the head of the Ministry of Defence pointed out.
“K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled howitzer on a tracked chassis. Its main armament is a 155 mm cannon, which, depending on the type of ammunition, ensures precise firing at distances of over 40 km. Auxiliary armament is a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun,” the Ministry of National Defence wrote on Twitter.