South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) recently completed the roll-out of the first domestic engine for the Hanwha Aerospace K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH). According to DAPA, the newly developed domestic engine is expected to further expand the global market for the K9 SPH as it has improved performance and economy compared to existing engines and will allow greater freedom in exports.

Seok Jong-geon, the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said, “By cooperating with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to localize the engine, which is the heart of the K9 self-propelled howitzer, the K9 self-propelled howitzer has truly become a premium weapon of our country.”

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) First Vice Minister Park Sung-taek, emphasized, “In order for K-defence to continue to advance in the intensifying global export competition, self-sufficiency in key defense materials and parts is of utmost importance.” He added that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy would make greater efforts to secure key technologies in defence small and medium-sized enterprises with high added value.

DAPA and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) had entered into an MOU for technical cooperation for the localization of key defense materials and parts in September 2020. Full-scale development of a domestic engine for the K9 SPH began in April 2021. The total investment for the engine development was KRW 32.1 billion, which included KRW 22.8 billion in government funds. According to DAPA, approximately 500 core engine parts were successfully localized and mass-produced in just three years.

The K9 SPH is currently powered by a German MTU diesel engine, which is produced under license in South Korea by STX, which is known as the STX-MTU MT881Ka-500 and develops 735 kW at 2,700 RPM.

Follow us on Telegram and Facebook.