K9 Thunder and AS9 Huntsman: how a Korean howitzer became a global artillery system

The K9 family demonstrates how a national self-propelled howitzer can become an international artillery ecosystem. Australia is building the adapted AS9 Huntsman in Geelong and pairing it with the AS10 ammunition resupply vehicle. An Australian-built gun fired for the first time in 2026, moving the programme’s centre of gravity from contract signature to training, production and unit integration.

The system behind the gun

K9 and AS9 combine a protected tracked chassis with a 155 mm/52-calibre howitzer. Fire-control computers, navigation, ammunition handling and rapid displacement matter as much as calibre. Several rounds can be fired on different trajectories to arrive together. Range figures are inseparable from ammunition type, and responsible comparison must distinguish standard projectiles from assisted or guided rounds.

Australia’s Huntsman configuration

AS9 retains the K9 architecture while incorporating Australian communications, protection and user requirements. The AS10 carries ammunition under armour and reduces exposure during resupply. Australia plans 30 howitzers and 15 support vehicles, with substantial work in Geelong. Local assembly is therefore both a capability choice and the foundation for decades of maintenance and modification.

What automation can—and cannot—do

Automated handling reduces physical workload and makes short bursts more consistent. It does not remove people from the firing chain. Fuzes, charges, barrel condition, position selection and replenishment remain labour-intensive. Official peak rates describe short sequences; sustained output is constrained by heat, ammunition flow and maintenance.

Surviving counter-battery fire

Modern artillery must fire, move and reconnect. Tracks let the system follow heavy manoeuvre formations, while armour protects against fragments and small arms. It offers limited defence against drones and precision counter-fire. Camouflage, short occupation times, dispersed logistics and local air defence remain essential to survival.

Editorial assessment

The K9 family succeeds through a sound total system and an adaptable industrial model. AS9 is not a revolutionary weapon; it is a robust way to deliver accurate 155 mm effects quickly and repeatedly under armour. Australia’s real advantage will be measured in available ammunition, spare parts, trained crews and digital targeting—not brochure firing rates.

Primary sources and method

This assessment uses official government, armed-forces and manufacturer material. Missing data are not replaced with estimates.

• Australian Department of Defence – AS9 live-fire and introduction training
• Hanwha Defence Australia – first Australian-made AS9 Huntsman vehicles

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