Egypt expands defense with K9 howitzers for coastal security
Much like Poland, Egypt has decided to purchase K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers from South Korea. Besides their standard usage, these howitzers will also be employed as coastal anti-ship artillery. Here's how they operate in this mode.
The Hanwha Aerospace group has claimed the capability to combat surface ships and has developed its own 1,000-horsepower diesel engine. This development will facilitate the export of K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to markets that were previously inaccessible due to potential sales restrictions from Germany. These restrictions were a result of the use of the MTU engine in the manufactured howitzers.
In the test footage below, you can see the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer successfully hitting a surface vessel. This capability can be particularly useful in repelling a sea-based assault.
K9 Thunder — South Korea's export hit
In February 2022, Egypt ordered around 200 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers for $1.7 billion. The first units will be produced in Korea, but the majority will be manufactured in Egypt, involving the local industry.
The ordered units are the K9A1 Thunder, an upgraded version of the K9 Thunder, which has been in production since 1999. It is a 52-ton structure based on a tracked chassis, equipped with a turret featuring a 155 mm caliber gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers. This configuration allows for firing up to 6 rounds per minute and executing three shots in MRSI mode.
This type of armament has now become the standard in NATO, enabling targets to be attacked at distances from 19 to 19.5 miles using the simplest shells, like the DM121. Using slightly more expensive shells with base bleed can extend this range to about 25 miles.
It is possible to hit targets at distances of around 31 to 37 miles using M549A1 rocket-assisted projectiles. Even unguided ammunition can be sufficiently accurate when used in conjunction with a good ballistic computer and radar data.
Laser-guided shells — pinpoint accuracy even against moving targets
With the use of guided munitions like the Vulcano GLR, it is possible to engage targets at distances up to 50 miles with pinpoint accuracy if a variant with a homing head on a reflected laser beam is used.
This type of technology is particularly useful because, when used in conjunction with drones, it allows for pinpoint accuracy even against moving targets. In Egypt's case, the M712 Copperhead shells will most likely be used.
These are Cold War-era shells with a shaped charge warhead and approximately 15 pounds of explosives. Their range for older guns was a maximum of 10 miles, but with 52-caliber length guns, the maximum range extends to 19 miles. This capability allows for the effective elimination of landing forces before they reach the shore.
