At the end of August, the first K9 Kõu self-propelled howitzers arrived in Estonia from South Korea. After modification, they will be operated by the artillery battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade. A total of 18 self-propelled howitzers acquired by the Defense Forces will arrive in Estonia over the next three years.
According to Minister of Defense Jüri Luig, the acquisition of K9 Kõu self-propelled howitzers is a good example of how complex it is to develop a new capability, and what it implies. “The process, which began two years ago, has now gone so far that we can begin to technically modify the guns to fully meet our needs. This is one of the most important defense procurements of the Defense Forces in recent years, the aim of which is to strengthen, above all, our indirect fire capabilities,” said Luig.