Finland has received the first K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers from South Korea. That announced Finnish defense minister Jussi Niinistö on Friday. Finland has ordered a total of 48 K9 Thunder howitzers, and judging by the images from the Vuosaari docks at least four of them have arrived.
The K9 Thunder is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer produced by Samsung Techwin. Finland signed the €146 million deal in February of 2017, and the vehicles will be produced for Finland between 2017 and 2024. They will replace the old Soviet produced 2S1 Gvozdika howitzers that Finland has.
Finland is the first Scandinavian country to receive deliveries of the K9 Thunder. In addition to Finland, also Estonia and Norway have bought the howitzer. Estonia has purchased 12 howitzers, and Norway has purchased 24 with an option for another 24.
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