South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract in Oslo with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) for the supply of 24 additional K9 Vidar self-propelled howitzers, which are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027. With this acquisition, the Norwegian Army will increase its fleet of self-propelled artillery vehicles (SPAs) to fifty-two (52) units, strengthening its long-range strike, fire support, and counter-battery capabilities with a proven platform tailored to the requirements of both the force and NATO.
In 2017, Norway became an operator of the self-propelled howitzer designed and produced in South Korea, when it signed an initial contract for the purchase of 24 K9 Thunder systems—locally designated as Vidar—together with 14 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles. These were intended to replace the veteran U.S.-made M109A3GN howitzers, which had served for five decades before later being transferred to Ukraine.
By 2022, the Nordic country expanded its order with four additional units, bringing its operational fleet to 28 SPAs. These self-propelled artillery systems have since been deployed as the main equipment of the Artillery Battalion of the Northern Brigade, one of the most important in the Norwegian Army, where they proved their reliability and firepower during high-intensity exercises and under the extreme Arctic climate.
The newly signed contract addresses the need to strengthen the recently established Finnmark Brigade (Finnmarksbrigaden), located on the border with Russia, in a context of rising tension in the Arctic and Northern Europe. As Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik noted, “The war in Ukraine has shown that artillery is crucial in a modern army; strengthening this capability in the north is particularly important in the current security environment.”
The agreement, the third reached between Hanwha and Norway, includes an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package with training, maintenance, and cooperation with local industry, in addition to integrating the new systems into Norway’s combat network. The K9 Vidar units will feature improved communications and command-and-control systems, adapted to the needs of the Finnmark Brigade.
It is worth recalling that the K9 Thunder, in its Norwegian Vidar variant, is a 155mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer with a range of over 40 km, a firing rate of up to six rounds per minute, and the ability to conduct Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) missions. Its tracked mobility and armor make it suitable for operations in difficult terrain and under adverse conditions.
Photos used for illustrative purposes only.
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