Norway has expanded its artillery modernization program with a fresh contract for 24 more K9 VIDAR self-propelled howitzers from South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. The agreement, signed with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), raises the country’s K9 fleet to 52 units. The newly ordered systems are scheduled for delivery by 2027 and will feature upgraded communications integrated with Norway’s national combat system. The package also covers logistics support, training, and maintenance, with cooperation from domestic Norwegian industry.
The deal was formalized during a signing ceremony in Oslo attended by senior defense and industry leaders, including Hanwha Aerospace President and CEO Jaeil Son, NDMA Director General Gro Jære, Norwegian Army Chief Major General Lars Lervik, and South Korean Ambassador Min-Jeong Seo. The signing highlights both the strengthening of Norway–South Korea defense ties and the continuation of Norway’s phased acquisition strategy for the K9 VIDAR.
Norway’s K9 journey began in December 2017, when it ordered 24 howitzers and six K10 ammunition vehicles. Deliveries concluded by 2020, accompanied by the creation of a dedicated training center in Bjerkvik. The first operational battery entered service at Setermoen in January 2021, with further units later deployed in Setermoen and Rena. A follow-up order in November 2022 added four K9s and eight K10s to the inventory, expanding operational capacity.
By early 2025, the Norwegian Army fielded 28 K9s and 14 K10s. In April 2025, the government confirmed its intention to procure another 24 K9 howitzers in a deal valued at $534 million. That commitment has now been cemented through the September 2025 contract, ensuring steady expansion of Norway’s artillery forces and greater operational readiness in Arctic and northern defense missions.
