Norway has proposed acquiring 24 additional K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers as part of a $1.6 billion rearmament initiative to modernize its armed forces.
According to the government, the new batch of 155 mm units will form a new artillery battalion within the planned Finnmark Brigade near the Russian border. Army Recognition reports that the move follows Norway’s previous K9 procurement efforts, which began in 2017 under a deal with Hanwha Aerospace.
Oslo initially received 24 K9s and six K10 resupply vehicles, followed by four more K9s and eight K10s in 2022. Once the latest order is fulfilled, Norway’s K9 fleet will total 52 units.
Manufactured by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, the K9 Thunder is a tracked 155 mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer designed for high mobility, rapid response and long-range fire support. It features a maximum speed of 67 kilometers per hour and a range of approximately 480 km.
This proposed acquisition follows other recent developments in Norwegian defense. Last week, Norway completed its acquisition of 52 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, becoming the first partner nation to fulfill its F-35 program. The country’s enhanced fleet is expected to strengthen its national defense and contributions to NATO operations, particularly in the Arctic and across Europe.
Additionally, Norway is in the process of finalizing a new defense agreement with the United Kingdom. Announced in February, this pact aims to boost security in the High North with both countries seeking to create a new era of defense collaboration within NATO to deter regional threats, particularly in light of increasing tensions with Russia.