SEOUL -- South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace released the first depiction of its latest advancement in artillery technology with the unveiling of the K9A3 self-propelled howitzer, an evolution of the widely fielded K9 Thunder family. Presented via an official video on April 28, 2025, the K9A3 represents a decisive step forward, introducing autonomous and unmanned operational capabilities that address emerging requirements for survivability, lethality, and operational tempo in multi-domain operations.

Designed with full manned and unmanned functionality, the K9A3 allows commanders to deploy it in high-risk environments without direct personnel exposure. The new artillery vehicle can conduct all mobility and firing operations either remotely or in a fully autonomous mode. This capability is increasingly essential for modern conflict scenarios where adversaries possess advanced counter-battery capabilities, loitering munitions, and sophisticated surveillance assets.

From a tactical and operational perspective, autonomous artillery platforms like the K9A3 redefine employment concepts. They enable decentralized operations with highly mobile, dispersed batteries that can exploit terrain, minimize signature, and rapidly deliver precision fires. Autonomous operation allows for reduced crew footprints, mitigating casualties and enabling sustained operations under conditions of heavy attrition or communications degradation. Critically, the K9A3’s automation enhances its ability to execute "shoot-and-scoot" tactics — a battlefield maneuver in which an artillery unit fires on a target and immediately relocates to a new firing position before the enemy can detect and return fire. This tactic dramatically reduces vulnerability to counter-battery strikes, UAV reconnaissance, and precision-guided munitions, ensuring that artillery remains survivable even under persistent enemy observation.

As armed forces worldwide seek to modernize their indirect fire capabilities against increasingly capable threats, the K9A3 is expected to generate significant interest among both current K9 users and new markets aiming to achieve overmatch in fires capabilities.

Source: Army Recognition
Associated URL: https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/exclusive-south-koreas-hanwha-aerospace-prepares-future-autonomous-howitzer-k9a3-offering-80-km-range

BUCHAREST -- According to an official statement released by the Turkish defense manufacturer Otokar on April 25, 2025, Otokar has signed a significant Joint Venture agreement with Romania’s Automecanica S.A. to manufacture the COBRA II 4x4 armored vehicles locally. This agreement marks a strategic advancement in Otokar’s international cooperation efforts and aligns with the recent contract awarded by the Romanian Ministry of Defense for the procurement of 1,059 COBRA II vehicles. The initiative is a key component of Romania’s ongoing modernization program, aimed at strengthening its defense capabilities in response to evolving regional security dynamics.

The local manufacturing of the COBRA II 4x4 armored vehicle in Romania is expected to generate substantial economic benefits, including the creation of skilled employment opportunities and the advancement of domestic defense technologies. Furthermore, Romania is poised to become a regional center for the production, maintenance, and possible future export of COBRA II vehicles to other NATO members and partner nations.

For the Turkish Company Otokar, the establishment of this Joint Venture signifies an important milestone in its global expansion strategy. With military vehicles operational in over 40 countries, Otokar continues to solidify its position as an international supplier of advanced land systems. The Romanian project further strengthens Otokar’s ties with NATO allies and exemplifies the company's long-term vision of building sustainable international partnerships based on technology transfer, local manufacturing, and enduring support.

Source: Army Recognition
Associated URL: https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/tuerkiyes-otokar-strengthens-european-presence-with-cobra-ii-armored-vehicle-manufacturing-in-romania

ISLAMABAD -- The recent discovery of several dozen PCL-181 (SH-15) self-propelled howitzers of the Pakistan Army, located only 80 kilometers from the Indian border near the Line of Control (LoC), marks a new escalation in an already tense situation between India and Pakistan. Spotted by Clash Report in a post on X, these Chinese-designed artillery systems, equipped with 155mm/52-caliber guns capable of firing up to 50 kilometers, reinforce Pakistan’s military presence near the contested border. This show of force occurs as tensions continue to mount following a series of events in the Jammu and Kashmir region, a historic battleground for rivalries between the two nuclear powers.

China, Pakistan’s historic ally, could play a role in this evolving crisis. Although Beijing condemned the Pahalgam attack, its primary focus remains on safeguarding its strategic interests, notably in Balochistan and the disputed Aksai Chin region.

The large-scale deployment of Pakistani PCL-181 howitzers, combined with the current hydrological and military escalation, underscores the extreme fragility of the situation in South Asia. As tensions continue to rise, the risk of an open confrontation between India and Pakistan remains significant, in an international context where calls for moderation have so far struggled to produce tangible results.

Source: Army Recognition
Associated URL: https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/pakistan-deploys-chinese-sh-15-155mm-howitzers-near-india-border-against-a-backdrop-of-regional-tensions