SP, MLRS and SPAA Developments

[152H55]

The Finnish purchase of used South Korean 155mm K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers seems to be getting closer, a memorandum of understanding is to be signed shortly and the formal contract in the beginning of the next year. From KBS, the national public broadcaster of South Korea: http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/....htm?No=123440

[152H55]

Originally Posted by 152H55

The Finnish purchase of used South Korean 155mm K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers seems to be getting closer, a memorandum of understanding is to be signed shortly and the formal contract in the beginning of the next year. From KBS, the national public broadcaster of South Korea: http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/....htm?No=123440

Deal done, 48 K9's purchased for 146 M€. Delivers and staff training to start this year, conscript training begins in 2019 so first units are combat ready in 1/2020.

Link to the official FDF release (in Finnish): http://maavoimat.fi/artikkeli/-/asse...ikuttamiskykya
Somewhat intelligible Google translation of the same:https://translate.google.com/transla...kya&edit-text=

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Been tracking the same, from my files from last July...
http://www.armyrecognition.com/july_..._50507161.html

I haven't read my "papers" yet but I'm sure this will have been updated or soon will be. We have time to ensure this goes all the way.

We've been burned game wise by contract cancellations before , the USMC w/EFV and India w/MMCRA and others from India several times, come to mind as does the ARCHER which I think still needs to be addressed.

As an add on (Shows how long I maintain my files since my hiatus.) the ARCHER issue I referred to above, concerns Norway having dropped out of the program in the joint development of the system with Sweden on 06 Dec. 2013. I think we had them put in for that years patch or previous one as they were to have received 24 UNITS by the end of 2013 for Norway. Sorry haven't had a chance until the previous post brought my memory back to regional associated arty issues was made to check in on that situation.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...project-05142/

I'm more cautious about these things now because it just seems there are more pressures on defense spending now and priorities are in flux with reactions to what Russia and China are doing at any given moment. And it saves on rework as well game wise.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Don if your up against it (And you are.) no worries at all then. If you have the time though...

NORWAY/ARCHER SPA/UNITS 600 - 601/DELETE// On 6 December 2013 Norway dropped out of the program due to many reasons from financial to Sweden not fulfilling the delivery portion of the contract which was to be meant by end of 2013. All true. Sweden has just recently bought the remaining 24 UNITS meant for Norway (Each had a 24 UNIT split of the total production run of 48 UNITS.) of those 24, 12 will go into storage and they hope to find a customer for the remaining 12 UNITS. More on Norway's SPA search below.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/art...-the-plug.html
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...project-05142/

SWEDEN/ARCHER SPA/UNITS 416 & 463/ADD/LEMUR RCWS 12.7mm w/4 Grenade Launchers (2 per side.)/200 Ready Rds. - 1500-2000 stored VICE 7.62mm./Mounted over crew cab behind driver./Has Day & Night sights w/TI/GSR /Kongsberg RWS was dropped apparently./CHANGE/UNITS 416 & 463/START DATE TO FEB. 2016 per ref. one below./Armed with BONUS rounds. For FYI, they are not considered a CM munition but a precision munition.//
Sweden on it's own and stuck with the bill more or less. Note the glowing review in the last ref. by a Norwegian artillery officer. It shows how things "can turn on a dime".
http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/news...lery-regiment/
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/archer.htm
http://www.janes.com/article/63964/s...llery-purchase
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/ht.../20161013.aspx
http://www.bundesheer.at/truppendien...el.php?id=1138

Norway since ARCHER as it hunts for a new SPA Platform...
http://www.fsi.no/sfiles/90/14/1/fil...k-4-5-2015.pdf
https://aw.my.com/en/forum/showthrea...illery-systems (Scroll to page 4.)
http://www.americanmilitaryforum.com...pa-tender.562/
http://www.snafu-solomon.com/2016/08...echwin-k9.html

Pics:



A good way to get out of cleaning out the gutters today, tomorrow is another story!?!

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

God this was aggravating forgot to "sort" my refs "A-Z" today and completely missed this...
http://www.janes.com/article/67551/e...th-south-korea
http://www.janes.com/article/67827/f...om-south-korea

For Finland it'll be awhile though much like it was for Sweden with the ARCHER...

"Deliveries of the howitzers to Finland are due to begin during 2017, in order to begin staff training this year. Finnish conscripts are due to begin being trained on the K9 in 2019, while deliveries of all 48 systems are due to be completed by 2024. This timeline accords with previously released Finnish plans to declare initial operating capability with a new howitzer in 2020 and full operating capability in 2025."

SOP: Maintenanced, Modified to customer specs (Finnish name plates would be a good idea on the pieces parts. You laugh but I've seen that out here a couple of times in delaying shipment.), Tested, Accepted, Shipped, Inspected and Evaluated in the field.

Scandinavia and neighboring areas are sure is a busy place for South Korea right now!

Regards,
Pat