Norway to nearly double its K9 howitzer fleet for around $534 million

PARIS — Norway plans to just about double its fleet of self-propelled artillery, proposing to purchase an extra 24 K9 Thunder howitzers from Hanwha Aerospace for a price range of 5.65 billion Norwegian kroner, or $534 million.

The 155 mm howitzers will equip a brand new artillery battalion inside the deliberate Finnmark brigade being set as much as bolster Norway’s defenses within the excessive north, in line with a authorities proposal printed on Friday. The acquisition plan is a part of 17 billion kroner in proposed spending that additionally contains extra sea mine-clearing functionality, new navy vans and spending on amenities.

Norway already has 28 tracked K9 howitzers in addition to 14 K10 ammunition resupply automobiles, and can train an choice in its contract with Hanwha for the extra buy, the federal government mentioned. The spending plan nonetheless must be permitted by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting.

“We’re in a critical safety coverage scenario,” Minister of Defence Tore Sandvik mentioned. “Subsequently, we’ll now ask the Storting to approve important investments in varied components of the Armed Forces to strengthen Norway’s protection functionality, consistent with the ambitions of the long-term plan offered final 12 months.”

The Norwegian authorities in October final 12 months proposed to lift the nation’s 2025 protection price range by 19.2 billion kroner to 110.1 billion kroner. The price range for the extra howitzers contains the weapons in addition to spare components, in line with the spending proposal.

The acquisition of further artillery items “will contribute to considerably strengthening the Military’s firepower,” the federal government mentioned.

The additional howitzers improve the overall price range for the Norwegian 155 mm artillery undertaking to 11.1 billion kroner, in line with the authorities proposal. Different K9 operators within the Baltic area are Poland, Finland and Estonia.

The federal government additionally plans to spend an extra 3.9 billion kroner on maritime mine countermeasures, rising the overall price range for that undertaking to eight.74 billion kroner. The plan for the Norwegian Navy’s future mine-clearing functionality, first permitted in 2023, will embody unmanned and autonomous methods.

The beforehand permitted mine countermeasures functionality was assessed as too small in relation to the operational wants of a brand new safety scenario, in line with the federal government. Increasing the scope of the undertaking will guarantee enough assets to safeguard “freedom of motion in Norwegian waters even in a disaster or struggle,” the federal government mentioned.

“This may assist to make sure that our personal vessels and allies can sail safely and freely in Norwegian waters,” Sandvik mentioned. “As well as, it could actually assist to safe vital underwater infrastructure.”