The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) would like to produce locally the German diesel engine provided by MTU Friedrichshafen of Germany. The K9 Thunder artillery system is powered by a German MTU MT 881 Ka-500 diesel engine, developing 1,000 horsepower coupled to an Allison automatic transmission X1100-5A3 with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears.
According to the DAPA, the local production of the main foreign components of the K9 Thunder will increase the notoriety of military products made in South Korea as well as the export potential.
The K9 is now, one of the most popular self-propelled artillery howitzers in the world. The K9 Thunder was designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and Samsung Aerospace Industries for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and is now manufactured by South Korean Company Hanwha Defense.
The K9 Thunder is now in service with South Korea, Estonia, Finland, India, Norway, Poland using the chassis under the name of Krab, and Turkey produced under license and nicknamed Firtina.