South Korea’s Hanwha Defense prepares K9 howitzer bid for Spain’s €4.5bn artillery modernization.

South Korea’s Hanwha Defense is preparing a dual bid of its 155mm K9 self-propelled howitzer in tracked and wheeled variants for Spain’s €4.516 billion artillery modernization program. The move positions the K9 as a flexible solution to Spain’s effort to replace Cold War-era systems with a networked, NATO-standard fire-support architecture.

According to information published by the Seoul Economic Daily in late December 2025, Hanwha Defense is tailoring its flagship K9 Thunder 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer to meet Spain’s evolving operational requirements, offering both tracked and wheeled configurations under Madrid’s long-term modernization plan. The Spanish program aims to overhaul the Army’s indirect fire capability with digitally integrated platforms capable of rapid deployment, joint fires coordination, and sustained operations alongside allied forces.
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Hanwha Defense’s K9 Thunder 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, seen during a defense exhibition in South Korea, is being offered in both tracked and newly developed wheeled variants for Spain’s €4.5 billion artillery modernization program.  (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The K9 Thunder, originally developed for the South Korean Army, has evolved into the world's most widely exported 155mm tracked howitzer. To date, the system has been selected by nine countries, including several NATO members such as Poland, Norway, Estonia, Finland, and Türkiye. Its proven battlefield reliability, long-range firepower, and high rate of fire have made it the backbone of NATO’s growing focus on ground-based indirect fires, particularly in Eastern Europe. The latest K9A1 variant features an automated fire control system, improved targeting, enhanced situational awareness, and compatibility with smart munitions, allowing engagement of targets beyond 50 km with rocket-assisted projectiles.

Recognizing growing demand for wheeled artillery solutions in Europe, Hanwha Defense also unveiled a new wheeled variant of the K9 in 2025 during several major defense exhibitions, including ADEX in Seoul and DSEI in London. The wheeled K9 adapts the same 52-caliber gun and turret from the tracked version to a high-mobility 8×8 or 10×10 chassis, offering enhanced operational flexibility, faster strategic mobility, and a reduced logistical footprint. This version is designed to operate on Europe’s road networks and meet amphibious requirements for coastal operations, aligning precisely with the Spanish Army’s dual-domain artillery concept.

Spain’s artillery modernization effort marks one of the most ambitious land-based firepower acquisitions in NATO. The program envisions replacing 96 M109A5 tracked howitzers imported from the United States in the 1970s, along with 84 locally produced 155mm towed howitzers and 56 British L118s. These platforms have reached the end of their operational life and no longer meet modern standards for range, automation, or networked fire support.

Under the current plan, Spain will acquire 214 self-propelled howitzers: 128 tracked and 86 wheeled. Each system will be integrated into a broader tactical ecosystem, including 214 ammunition resupply vehicles, 35 recovery vehicles, 14 maintenance vehicles, and 59 command-and-control platforms. The Ministry of Defense has set strict performance and industrial criteria: minimum firing ranges of 40 kilometers, compatibility with next-generation guided and extended-range ammunition, and full digital integration with Spanish and NATO command architectures.

The competition for the contract includes a major European bid from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and KNDS, offering the ASCOD-based tracked Nemesis and the PIRANHA AAC 10×10 wheeled howitzer. Both platforms are equipped with the German-designed AGM (Artillerie-Geschütz-Modul), a modular turret derived from the PzH 2000. The AGM has already been selected by Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, offering a level of NATO-standardization that may appeal to planners in Madrid.

Nonetheless, Hanwha’s K9 solution presents a strong case. The system is already in NATO service, combat-tested, and supported by a rapidly expanding global user base. The wheeled variant, though newer, is backed by the same engineering and production expertise that enabled Hanwha to ramp up licensed manufacturing in Poland and Australia, both of which established local K9 assembly lines as part of offset agreements.

Spain is also demanding domestic industrial participation as a condition of the award. Hanwha has signaled readiness to transfer manufacturing know-how and establish long-term sustainment partnerships with the Spanish industry. This aligns with Madrid’s broader defense industrial strategy, which seeks to boost national sovereignty in key systems and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for critical logistics and maintenance.

The Spanish procurement decision is expected to shape the country’s artillery capabilities well into the 2050s and could influence future joint artillery programs across Southern Europe. The integration of wheeled and tracked systems, both using a common turret or fire-control architecture, will be a central evaluation criterion. The competition is not merely between vehicle platforms, but between industrial ecosystems and strategic alignments within the NATO alliance.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.