The South Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled gun is gaining traction in Finland and is poised to become a European standard.

While the Finnish Army currently maintains the largest fleet of towed howitzers in Europe, Helsinki has been progressively modernizing its ground-based fire control systems for several years, centered around the South Korean K9 Thunder. The contract signed on April 9 for 112 additional systems, negotiated with KOTRA and Hanwha Aerospace for approximately €546,8 million, is a continuation of this strategy, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2031 following national adaptation by Millog Oy. In an army still largely structured around towed howitzers, this milestone brings Finnish artillery a step closer to a more mobile model by 2035.

Finland retains the largest towed artillery force in Europe

The Finnish army still relies on a towed artillery force of unusual proportions for Europe. It fields 474 122mm guns, 24 152mm guns, and 132 155mm guns of domestic design—a very substantial arsenal for a country of its size. This massive firepower is part of a total defense posture, in which 4,400 active-duty soldiers train 20,000 conscripts each year, with the potential to increase to 260,000 soldiers in the event of war thanks to reservists. This structure provides depth, but it places a heavy burden on logistics and personnel.

Recent budgetary trends have, however, created a favorable opportunity to update this legacy. Finnish military spending reached €4,44 billion in 2023 and then €7,34 billion in 2024, representing 2,4% of GDP. Within this framework, the modernization, and even reinforcement, of the artillery arsenal is planned before 2035. This dynamic allows for a gradual evolution of the firepower architecture without destabilizing the overall balance of the defense model, which is based on mass, national mobilization, and sustained capabilities.

The shift began in March 2017 with an order for 48 K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Hanwha Aerospace. The first deliveries, made as early as February 2018, allowed for the rapid introduction of a modern, mobile, and proven self-propelled weapon into the Finnish Land Forces. This initial deployment not only increased the available firepower but also provided a foundation of experience in operation, maintenance, training, and support, upon which a more ambitious build-up could then be built.

This initial tranche was subsequently reinforced through the exercise of successive options. Ten additional systems were acquired in 2021, followed by another thirty-eight in 2022, bringing the Finnish fleet to 96 K9s before the decision of April 9. This gradual pace allowed the self-propelled format to be integrated into the planning without creating a sudden disruption in the units. Simultaneously, it provided time to structure the national industrial and logistical ecosystem necessary to support this type of system, an essential condition for absorbing larger volumes in the coming decade.

Before the new contract, Finland's long-range firepower also relied on second-hand multiple rocket launchers. Seventy-six systems were then in service, divided between thirty-four RM-70s and forty-one M270s. This combination provided a range of effects, from towed guns to multiple rocket launchers, with varying ranges and uses. It also required close coordination of command, support, and ammunition resources. Finland thus possessed a significant firepower, but one still largely dependent on towed or heterogeneous assets.

119 K9 Thunder guns ordered by Helsinki to modernize Finnish artillery

Finland announced on April 9 the signing of an intergovernmental contract for 112 K9 155mm self-propelled howitzers, along with spare parts, special equipment, and testing equipment, for a total of approximately €546,8 million. This additional batch brings Finland's total to 208 K9s by 2031, supplementing the 96 systems already in service or on order. By then, Finland's self-propelled artillery force will have nearly doubled in size compared to its existing fleet.