K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer Achieves Milestone with Raytheon Excalibur Artillery Projectile #military

Hanwha Aerospace's K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer has solidified its standing as one of the most advanced artillery systems in the world, following a successful live-firing test with the Raytheon M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided extended-range 155mm artillery projectile. Conducted in April at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground near the Arizona-California border, this test marks a critical milestone in the evolution of the K9 platform. The primary goal of the test was to confirm the K9's compatibility with Excalibur Ib projectiles, specifically aiming at targets nearly 50 kilometers away using various fuze function modes. The outcomes were exceptional. A VIDAR variant of the K9, currently in use by the Norwegian Army, demonstrated unparalleled accuracy by hitting its target with less than a one-meter circular error probability (CEP) in Point Detonating mode. Additionally, in Height of Burst mode, the projectile detonated five meters above the target, ensuring effective destruction. This performance places the K9 among an elite group of artillery systems capable of operating with sophisticated guided munitions like the Excalibur, which has been in use since 2014.