Difference between revisions of "VIDAR"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled artillery system employed by Norway since 2022. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun. Norway acquired the system to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. Norway acquired a total of 24 K9 Thunder artillery systems. The deliveries started in 2019 and concluded in 2021. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, like a combined NBC protection and air conditioning situated at the rear of the turret. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
 
  
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Introduced in [[Update "Sons of Attila"]], the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. However, the VIDAR lacks substantial armour. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the T-55AMD. The vehicle also has a poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the gun depression is very mediocre. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a self-propelled artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. This system was given to the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord'', the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.
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Introduced in [[Update "Sons of Attila"]], the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both a thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks, but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the [[T-55AM-1]]. The vehicle also has a fairly poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the armor protection is fairly thin and its gun depression limited. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h. The VIDAR is best suited for highly mobile warfare, moving around rapidly after firing a few accurate shells towards your enemies.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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The VIDAR is based on ROKA's K9A1 Thunder SPH, although the vehicle can be said as one of the most modern vehicle in-game, the overall survivability is still not for frontline operations due to its nature of a SPH. The purpose of protection for SPH is for stopping close-call shrapnel from injuring the crew, supporting vehicles like such are usually deployed at the rear of battlefield to support the assault forces - this is no exception for VIDAR.
 
  
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Thanks to the overall improved armor technology, the hardened armor on both the chassis and turret can now make sure even basic 20 mm ammunition (generally used by non-combat SPAA or as auxiliary weapon by some medium tanks) cannot harm the crew from any direction at ranges of 300 m or above, but do not take it as a medallion to go for the frontline - even weakest autocannons can still tear down the vehicle with relative ease through the turret neck or at point blank range.  
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The VIDAR is a variant of the ROKA's K9A1 Thunder SPH, making it one of the newest vehicles in the game. However, even a modern SPH is still a SPH, so the vehicle does not sport armour thick enough to deflect anything above heavy MG fire at range. This is not a major issue in real life, as SPHs aren't meant to engage enemy armor directly, but in War Thunder is definitely something to keep note of. The vehicle can deflect 20 mm autocannon fire from the common [[Rh202 (20 mm)]] or similar cannons on various vehicles at this tier from mid to long range as well, but at close range it can most definitely give you a bad day.
  
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The SPG is extremely sturdy and will not take overpressure damage unless obliterated by another artillery tank or hit into three very specific weak spots - the belly right above the tracks next to the turret (not going to happen under normal circumstances), the turret ring (while not impossible, might be difficult to hit before VIDAR fires) or the gun breech (only vulnerable to 105+ mm HE and poses risk of the cannon catching the shell), so anyone trying to parry VIDAR with HESH/HE/ATGM thinking "it's just another SPG" is going to have a very bad time. The kinetic shells will easily penetrate, so having a teammate to cover the flank against random snipers is always a good idea to extend VIDAR's service life for as long as possible.
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The SPG is extremely sturdy and will not take overpressure damage unless hit by an enemy howitzer / large caliber HE shell or hit in three very specific weak spots - the belly right above the tracks next to the turret (very low likelihood), the turret ring or the gun breech (only vulnerable to 105+ mm HE and poses risk of the cannon barrel catching the shell), so anyone trying to fire a poorly placed chemical round at the VIDAR may find their shell doing surprisingly little before being blasted back to the hangar. Kinetic shells however will easily penetrate the vehicle anywhere, so positioning yourself so that teammates cover the flanks against enemy advances is always a good idea to stay in the fight for longer.
  
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As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots to the hull might have a hard time to cause lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players are aware of the huge turret, the crew of four can rotate as generally only two of them will be knocked down by the projectile, unless the detonation of up to 48 shells at the rear of the turret happens, in which case there will be huge fireworks as the turret flies hundreds of meters away.
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As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots to the hull generally have a hard time causing lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players shoot the turret instead, if the spalling reaches your ammunition racks stationed in the turret rear you may experience what is known as a 'significant emotional event'.
  
 
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
 
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,420|rbMinHp=884}}To drive the K9 series at its enormous size and up to 48 t in mass, ROKA seek STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission, which pushes the vehicle at up to 68 km/h while maintaining a very fast reverse speed (at -38 km/h), making it a very mobile SPH for its size.
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,420|rbMinHp=884}}
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To drive the K9 series and its ~47 ton weight up to a max speed of 67 km/h, the K9 uses a powerpack with 1,000 HP. The STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission enable the vehicle to have a HP/t ratio of over 20, which is almost unheard of for an SPH in this weight class. This was due to the 'shoot-and-scoot' battle doctrine, and as a result, the VIDAR is incredibly mobile for its size while also having high reverse to boot as well. Even other SPHs considered mobile like the [[2S3M]] top out at 18.9 HP/t and have less armour, lack the initial rate of fire, and fire their shells at a noticeably lower velocity, giving the VIDAR a distinct niche.
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|CN98 (155 mm)}}
 
{{main|CN98 (155 mm)}}
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For countering possible enemies, Hyundai WIA developed the domestic 155 mm CN98 L/52 howitzer for K9 Thunder using NATO standard 155 mm ammunition, it is no exception for the export VIDAR for Norway; thanks to its rather fast reload rate (for the first three shells on the "ready-rack") the and varieties of ammunition, CN98 makes VIDAR a fearsome SPH even against "doomsday tank" and early-Cold War tanks, enemy aircraft will also fall victim of it if VT shell is loaded, turning it into a 155 mm anti-aircraft cannon. Do note that the gun does not have an autoloader and upon severe crew loss the reload speed advantage is lost.
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To provide credible and powerful deterrence against potential foreign adversaries, Hyundai WIA developed the domestic 155 mm CN98 L/52 howitzer for the K9 Thunder, while keeping it compatible with NATO standard 155 mm ammunition. This most certainly helped export the VIDAR to Norway; thanks to its rather fast reload rate (for the first three shells on the "ready-rack") and a wide variety of compatible ammunition, the CN98 cannon makes the VIDAR a fearsome SPH against all enemies it faces, be it something hardened against nuclear war like the [[Object 279]] or something very modern such as the [[M1 Abrams]] if you hit their weakspots.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+70° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 8.8 || 12.2 || 14.8 || 16.4 || 17.4 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
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| rowspan="2" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -2°/+70° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 8.8 || 12.2 || 14.8 || 16.4 || 17.4 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Hager's X-Ray view with Vidar.png|thumb]]
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}_1.png|right|thumb|250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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[[File:Hager's X-Ray view with Vidar - 2.png|thumb]]<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}_2.png|right|thumb|250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! '''Full<br>ammo'''
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! Full<br>ammo
−
!'''Ammo'''
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! Ammo<br>type
−
'''Type'''
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! '''1st<br>rack empty'''
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
−
! '''2nd<br>rack empty'''
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
−
! '''3rd<br>rack empty'''
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! 4th<br>rack empty
−
! '''4th<br>rack empty'''
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! 5th<br>rack empty
−
! '''5th<br>rack empty'''
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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! '''Visual<br>discrepancy'''
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''48'''  
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| '''48'''
−
|''Projectiles''
+
| Projectiles <br> Propellants
−
''Propellants''
+
| 34&nbsp;''(+14)'' <br> 31&nbsp;''(+17)''
−
| ''34(+14)''  
+
| 19&nbsp;''(+29)'' <br> 21&nbsp;''(+27)''
−
31(+17)  
+
| 10&nbsp;''(+38)'' <br> 3&nbsp;''(+45)''
−
| ''19(+29)''  
+
| 3&nbsp;''(+45)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+47)''
−
21(+27)  
+
| 1&nbsp;''(+47)'' <br> N/A
−
| ''10(+38)''  
+
| No
−
3(+45)  
 
−
| ''3(+45)''  
 
−
1(+47)  
 
−
| ''1(+47)''  
 
−
N/A  
 
−
| Yes
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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{{Clear}}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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VIDAR's [[CN98 (155 mm)|CN98 (155mm)]] cannon can only inflict damage with HE rounds, so players should be at least aware of how [[Damage mechanics#Overpressure|Overpressure]] works in War Thunder. Having some knowledge of where vehicles can be overpressured (turret rooftops, the upper plates of the hull, areas around hull ammunition storages and so on) is the bare minimum to be able to do any consistent damage to enemy vehicles.  
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The VIDAR's [[CN98 (155 mm)|CN98]] cannon can only inflict damage with HE rounds, so players should be aware of how [[Damage mechanics#Overpressure|overpressure]] works in War Thunder. Having some knowledge of where vehicles can be overpressured (turret rooftops, the upper plates of the hull, areas around hull ammunition storages and so on) is the bare minimum to be able to do any consistent damage to enemy vehicles.
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The VIDAR can generally consider two types of enemies as its most noteworthy adversaries; vehicles with stabilized guns, which can fire on the move, and vehicles equipped with autocannons. While the VIDAR is constructed mainly out of 35 mm hardened steel plates as opposed to the thin aluminium of its older artillery brethren such as the [[M109 (Family)|M109]]s, it still requires smart planning and quick moving to remain intact. Any enemy main gun will make short work of the VIDAR, and the thin plating can only really resist HMG and certain autocannon rounds.
  
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The VIDAR can generally consider two types of enemies as its most noteworthy adversaries; vehicles with stabilized guns, which can fire on the move, and enemy APCs, IFVs, and SPAAGs with high-calibre, rapid-firing heavy machine guns or autocannons. While the VIDAR is constructed mainly out of 35 mm hardened steel plates as opposed to the thin aluminium of its older artillery brethren such as the M109s, it still requires smart planning and quick moving to remain intact. Any enemy main gun will make short work of the VIDAR, and the thin plating can only resist HMG and certain autocannon rounds. Most enemy vehicles must therefore be considered lethal; while the vast majority of 12.7 mm (.50 cal) and 14.5 mm HMG rounds can be shrugged off, anything bigger is much more likely to either fully penetrate or at least severely harm the vehicle. Many 20 mm APDS rounds will go through the armour at normal engagement ranges. Any sort of HVAP or APDS bigger than 20 mm will ignore the steel plates; APFSDS will not even think of it as a barrier between itself and the crew or ammunition load! Here, enemy IFVs such as the Bradleys, Type 89, or BMP series can be considered dangerous opponents to face. An enemy missile hitting the VIDAR is more likely than not to destroy the vehicle.  
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Talking about stabilizers first, the VIDAR finds itself at a Battle Rating where stabilizers start being more common. Cold War icons like the [[Leopard 1]] and [[M60]] don't come equipped with them, but vehicles such as the [[T-55A]], [[M60A1 (AOS)]], [[M3 Bradley]] and others like it are a dime a dozen. These vehicles can, as the name implies, fire on the move, as their guns are stabilized in one or more axes, while your slow horizontal slew rate and lack of one means against these vehicles you are unlikely to fire the first shot against them while on the move yourself. It may be beneficial to find longer ranged sightlines or flanking the enemy in uptiers using your high mobility, as you may outflank and destroy enemy vehicles without them noticing your presence rather than accidentally meeting one of these vehicles head-on and suffering the consequences of an unstabilized gun.
  
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Using the very good acceleration and turning speeds of the VIDAR will help the commander move quickly from one favourable position to another. Using natural cover such as trenches, ditches, muddy riverbanks, or small clusters of trees will help conceal the vehicle while remaining within viewing distance of the battlefield. The excellent sights will provide the opportunity to spot and engage enemies from afar, and the near-instant-use laser rangefinder will automatically raise or lower the gun to the right horizontal elevation for the targeted enemy who finds himself at the receiving end of the L/52 cannon.
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Against autocannons, the VIDAR unfortunately doesn't fare much better either, with superficial armor when it comes to protecting against direct enemy fire. This as a result means that if you take fire from the enemy you will at best be crippled and at worst suffer a catastrophic detonation should one of the penetrating shells hit the ammo. The benefit of autocannons is that, even if unstabilized, they can usually be "sprayed" at a target and have generally somewhat accurate results. Vehicles with a high slew rate on their turrets such as the [[AMX-30 DCA]] and [[Marder IFV (Family)|Marder IFV]]s can also fire on the move quasi-stabilized as well, so if you hear autocannon fire near you stay vigilant. One of the benefits of fighting vehicles with such armament is that they too are generally lightly armored, so as a result should you ambush them or get a direct hit on them first chances are you will win the engagement with minimal damage taken. Vehicles to generally be wary of around this BR would be stabilized autocannon vehicles such as the [[Gepard]], [[M3 Bradley]], [[BMP-2]] and many others.
  
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The choice of HE-VT means the VIDAR can successfully engage aircraft. Using the laser rangefinder, one can target helicopters at range, both stationary and moving. With some practice, it becomes relatively easy to engage moving aircraft using the high muzzle velocity, good sights, and good proximity fuzing radius. Enemy planes flying directly against the VIDAR can be "swatted" out of the sky with ease.
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Using the very good acceleration and overall high mobility of the VIDAR will help you relocate from long-range firing position to firing position easily. The excellent sights will provide the opportunity to spot and engage enemies from afar, especially with the help of thermals, and the near-instant-use laser rangefinder means your gun will automatically elevate or depress to the correct distance setting within your aiming parameters, significantly easing your main downside of having to hit near the turret or hull roof specifically to cause proper overpressure damage. It is to be noted however that while the VIDAR itself is mobile, the turret traverse in the horizontal can be lacking. It is recommended to always point your turret towards potential enemies while on the move, should you encounter someone on the way to another area of the map. It is also noteworthy to keep the tank's limited gun depression in mind, as this may prove a hindrance on slopes or terrain with frequent vertical elevation changes. Try and find gentle slopes or flat ground if possible, as the VIDAR's large size and poor gun depression limit its effectiveness around hilly terrain.
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 +
The option of HE-VT means the VIDAR can successfully engage aircraft. Using the laser rangefinder, one can target both hovering and moving helicopters at range. However, it is somewhat inadvisable to aim at aircraft with the shells available unless they are flying directly at you - mostly due to M107 (PF)'s middling shell velocity of only 580 m/s, almost half that of your nominal HE shell (OE F3 155 mm) which flies at 935 m/s - meaning that hitting enemy aircraft unless highly experienced in other contemporaries which use the same shell will prove surprisingly difficult. It may help to just take a few shots, however, given that you are safe, as if your aim is true you can prove to the enemy that you are a force to be reckoned with and that there is no escape.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* Great firepower
 
* Great firepower
−
* Fast reload rate for a SPH
+
* High reload rate for the first 3 ready rack shells
 
* Agile and nimble chassis
 
* Agile and nimble chassis
 
* Thermal imager and laser rangefinder
 
* Thermal imager and laser rangefinder
 
* 35 mm average all-around armour
 
* 35 mm average all-around armour
 
** Can't be overpressured from <120 mm HE
 
** Can't be overpressured from <120 mm HE
−
** Invunrable against HMGs
+
** Cannot be penetrated by HMGs
 +
** Can't set off some APHE rounds
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
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* Poor gun depression
 
* Poor gun depression
 
* Relatively small first-stage ammo rack
 
* Relatively small first-stage ammo rack
 +
* HE-VT has low velocity compared to contemporaries like the [[Bkan 1C]] or [[Type 99]]'s HE-VT
 +
* Lack of gun/sight stabilization
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self Propelled Artillery System, in service with the Norwegian Army. Norway decided to acquire a total of 24 K9 Thunder systems as well as 6 K10 resupply vehicles to replace their aging American-made M109A3GNM.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self Propelled Artillery System, in service with the Norwegian Army. Norway decided to acquire a total of 24 K9 Thunder systems as well as 6 K10 ammo resupply vehicles in 2017 to replace their aging American-made M109A3GNM. The K9 won out in the competition which consisted of the CAESAR wheeled artillery system, the K9, German PzH2000 and M109G, with the M109G and K9 being the final two contenders before the K9 was selected in December of 2017 as the winner.
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 +
The VIDAR is operated by the only artillery unit in the Norwegian Army, the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord.'' The vehicle was manufactured by the company Hanwha Land Systems, deliveries started in 2019 and finished between 2020 and 2021. All units were considered operational by the Norwegian Army by January 1st, 2022. In November of 2022, Norway inked an additional deal to import 4 more K9 SPHs and 8 more K10 ammo resupply vehicles, raising the total to 28 VIDARs and 14 K10s soon to be in service.
  
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The VIDAR is operated by the only artillery unit in the Norwegian Army, the ''Artilleribataljonen'' of the ''Brigade Nord.'' The vehicle was manufactured by the company Hanwha Land Systems, deliveries started in 2019 and finished between 2020 and 2021. All units were considered operational by the Norwegian Army by January 1st, 2022.
+
The K9 Thunder was developed by South Korea, based on experiences with the K55 license-produced M109 howitzer. The vehicle was developed to be fully compatible with NATO ammunition, and to have good mobility to perform counterbattery fire and change positions rapidly. The K9's first prototype was unveiled in 1996. The contract for its development was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries and just 3 years later in 1999 the ROK Army started to receive its first units of the vehicle. The first nation to acquire the production rights for the system was Turkey.
  
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The K9 Thunder was developed by South Korea, inspired by the American M109 Paladin. The vehicle was meant to be compatible with NATO projectiles and have good mobility to counteract counterbattery fire and change positions quickly and safely. The K9's first prototype was unveiled in 1996. The contract for its development was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries and just 3 years later in 1999 the ROK Army started to receive its first units of the vehicle. The first nation to acquire the production rights for the system was Turkey.
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The K9 has seen combat action in the Yeonpyeong bombardment of 2010, an artillery exchange between South Korean and North Korean soldiers. In this incident, 6 K9 systems from the South Korean Marine Infantry opened fire against North Korean positions. During the incident, some criticism was leveled at the K9 due to its return rate of fire being 1 round every 90 seconds - however, this was due to the fact that the K9's ammunition reserves were empty from the military exercise just minutes prior, meaning soldiers were running to the ammunition depots to fetch shells to fire back. The Korean Army deemed the K9's protection during the incident to be adequate against North Korean field gun shrapnel, and increased production of the K9 by a hundred extra units by 2011. This led to the K9s positioned near the border also retaining internal ammunition at all times, in case of a similar incident in the future.
  
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The K9 has only seen action in the Yeonpyeong bombardment of 2010, an artillery exchange between South Korean and North Korean soldiers. In this incident, 6 K9 systems from the South Korean Marine Infantry opened fire against North Korean positions.
+
The K9 has received very good export deals. Competing in the international markets with very powerful systems like the American M109 and German Pzh2000, it has sold more than 1,700 units, including those for South Korea. Turkey has also fitted their own version of the system, the T-155 Firtina, with 300 units expected to be deployed.
  
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The K9 has received very good export deals. Competing in the international markets with very powerful systems like the American M109 and German Pzh 2000, it has sold more than 1,700 units, including those for South Korea. Turkey has also fitted their own version of the system, the T-155 Firtina, with 300 units expected to be deployed.
+
In December of 2013, the program to improve the K9's performance was passed, which led to the K9A1. The K9A1 modification upgraded the FCS of the K0 up to K55A1 standard, added GPS navigation on top of the original INS system, the addition of an APU and a night vision periscope for the driver as well as a rear view camera. The software was also updated from a DOS based framework up to a Windows based digital FCS, to provide a graphics based fire control system for the crew to enhance performance.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
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File:XK-9 Prototype Taken At WMoK 2023-06-24.jpg|<small>XK-9 (The predecessor to the K9/K9A1, produced in 1995 for testing) on display at the War Memorial of Korea</small>
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Latest revision as of 15:55, 13 October 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
VIDAR
sw_k9_vidar.png
GarageImage VIDAR.jpg
VIDAR
Sweden flag.png Sweden
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
8.0 8.0 8.0
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
STORE

Description

The Versatile InDirect ARtillery is a self-propelled artillery system fielded by Norway since 2019. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun, which Norway acquired to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. The orders so far have been in two batches, the initial 2017 contract for 24 K9s and an extra order in 2022 for 4 more systems. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, most notably the ODIN fire control system developed domestically and direct-fire enabling equipment. This system was given to the Artilleribataljonen of the Brigade Nord, the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.

Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both a thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks, but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the T-55AM-1. The vehicle also has a fairly poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the armor protection is fairly thin and its gun depression limited. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h. The VIDAR is best suited for highly mobile warfare, moving around rapidly after firing a few accurate shells towards your enemies.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull40 / 35 / 35
Turret35 / 35 / 35
Crew5 people
Visibility102 %

The VIDAR is a variant of the ROKA's K9A1 Thunder SPH, making it one of the newest vehicles in the game. However, even a modern SPH is still a SPH, so the vehicle does not sport armour thick enough to deflect anything above heavy MG fire at range. This is not a major issue in real life, as SPHs aren't meant to engage enemy armor directly, but in War Thunder is definitely something to keep note of. The vehicle can deflect 20 mm autocannon fire from the common Rh202 (20 mm) or similar cannons on various vehicles at this tier from mid to long range as well, but at close range it can most definitely give you a bad day.

The SPG is extremely sturdy and will not take overpressure damage unless hit by an enemy howitzer / large caliber HE shell or hit in three very specific weak spots - the belly right above the tracks next to the turret (very low likelihood), the turret ring or the gun breech (only vulnerable to 105+ mm HE and poses risk of the cannon barrel catching the shell), so anyone trying to fire a poorly placed chemical round at the VIDAR may find their shell doing surprisingly little before being blasted back to the hangar. Kinetic shells however will easily penetrate the vehicle anywhere, so positioning yourself so that teammates cover the flanks against enemy advances is always a good idea to stay in the fight for longer.

As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots to the hull generally have a hard time causing lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players shoot the turret instead, if the spalling reaches your ammunition racks stationed in the turret rear you may experience what is known as a 'significant emotional event'.

Armour type:

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 40 mm 35 mm Top
35 mm Bottom 		35 mm 10 - 35 mm
Turret 35 mm Turret front
20 mm Gun mantlet 		35 mm 35 - 45 mm 35 mm
Cupola 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB73 / 44 km/h
RB and SB68 / 40 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight48.0 t
Engine power
AB1 908 hp
RB and SB1 000 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB39.8 hp/t
RB and SB20.8 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 73 44 48 1,420 1,908 29.58 39.75
Realistic 68 40 884 1,000 18.42 20.83

To drive the K9 series and its ~47 ton weight up to a max speed of 67 km/h, the K9 uses a powerpack with 1,000 HP. The STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission enable the vehicle to have a HP/t ratio of over 20, which is almost unheard of for an SPH in this weight class. This was due to the 'shoot-and-scoot' battle doctrine, and as a result, the VIDAR is incredibly mobile for its size while also having high reverse to boot as well. Even other SPHs considered mobile like the 2S3M top out at 18.9 HP/t and have less armour, lack the initial rate of fire, and fire their shells at a noticeably lower velocity, giving the VIDAR a distinct niche.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB2 795 Sl icon.png
RB2 901 Sl icon.png
SB3 593 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts440 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 340 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 150 / 210 / 250 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement sw.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank ammo.png
155mm_M110_Smoke_ammo_pack
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods tank ammo.png
155mm_M107_HE_PF_ammo_pack
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Mods tank ammo.png
155mm_NATO_HE_ammo_pack
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

155 mm CN98 cannon
Ammunition48 rounds
First-order2 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
7.8 → 6.0 s
Vertical guidance-2° / 70°
Main article: CN98 (155 mm)

To provide credible and powerful deterrence against potential foreign adversaries, Hyundai WIA developed the domestic 155 mm CN98 L/52 howitzer for the K9 Thunder, while keeping it compatible with NATO standard 155 mm ammunition. This most certainly helped export the VIDAR to Norway; thanks to its rather fast reload rate (for the first three shells on the "ready-rack") and a wide variety of compatible ammunition, the CN98 cannon makes the VIDAR a fearsome SPH against all enemies it faces, be it something hardened against nuclear war like the Object 279 or something very modern such as the M1 Abrams if you hit their weakspots.

155 mm CN98 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 48 -2°/+70° ±180° - 8.8 12.2 14.8 16.4 17.4 7.80 6.90 6.36 6.00
Realistic 5.9 7.0 8.5 9.4 10.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M107 HE 61 61 61 61 61 61
M107 (PF) HE-VT 61 61 61 61 61 61
OE F3 HE 61 61 61 61 61 61
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M107 HE 563 43.1 0.3 0.1 9.14 79° 80° 81°
OE F3 HE 935 44.4 0.3 0.1 9 79° 80° 81°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Arming
distance (m) 		Trigger
radius (m) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M107 (PF) HE-VT 580 43.1 0 0 300 3 9.14 79° 80° 81°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M110 563 40.8 21 5 30 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the VIDAR
Ammo racks of the VIDAR
Full
ammo 		Ammo
type 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
48 Projectiles
Propellants 		34 (+14)
31 (+17) 		19 (+29)
21 (+27) 		10 (+38)
3 (+45) 		3 (+45)
1 (+47) 		1 (+47)
N/A 		No

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition600 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-6° / 15°
Main article: M2HB (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 600 (200) 575 -6°/+15° ±180°

Usage in battles

The VIDAR's CN98 cannon can only inflict damage with HE rounds, so players should be aware of how overpressure works in War Thunder. Having some knowledge of where vehicles can be overpressured (turret rooftops, the upper plates of the hull, areas around hull ammunition storages and so on) is the bare minimum to be able to do any consistent damage to enemy vehicles.

The VIDAR can generally consider two types of enemies as its most noteworthy adversaries; vehicles with stabilized guns, which can fire on the move, and vehicles equipped with autocannons. While the VIDAR is constructed mainly out of 35 mm hardened steel plates as opposed to the thin aluminium of its older artillery brethren such as the M109s, it still requires smart planning and quick moving to remain intact. Any enemy main gun will make short work of the VIDAR, and the thin plating can only really resist HMG and certain autocannon rounds.

Talking about stabilizers first, the VIDAR finds itself at a Battle Rating where stabilizers start being more common. Cold War icons like the Leopard 1 and M60 don't come equipped with them, but vehicles such as the T-55A, M60A1 (AOS), M3 Bradley and others like it are a dime a dozen. These vehicles can, as the name implies, fire on the move, as their guns are stabilized in one or more axes, while your slow horizontal slew rate and lack of one means against these vehicles you are unlikely to fire the first shot against them while on the move yourself. It may be beneficial to find longer ranged sightlines or flanking the enemy in uptiers using your high mobility, as you may outflank and destroy enemy vehicles without them noticing your presence rather than accidentally meeting one of these vehicles head-on and suffering the consequences of an unstabilized gun.

Against autocannons, the VIDAR unfortunately doesn't fare much better either, with superficial armor when it comes to protecting against direct enemy fire. This as a result means that if you take fire from the enemy you will at best be crippled and at worst suffer a catastrophic detonation should one of the penetrating shells hit the ammo. The benefit of autocannons is that, even if unstabilized, they can usually be "sprayed" at a target and have generally somewhat accurate results. Vehicles with a high slew rate on their turrets such as the AMX-30 DCA and Marder IFVs can also fire on the move quasi-stabilized as well, so if you hear autocannon fire near you stay vigilant. One of the benefits of fighting vehicles with such armament is that they too are generally lightly armored, so as a result should you ambush them or get a direct hit on them first chances are you will win the engagement with minimal damage taken. Vehicles to generally be wary of around this BR would be stabilized autocannon vehicles such as the Gepard, M3 Bradley, BMP-2 and many others.

Using the very good acceleration and overall high mobility of the VIDAR will help you relocate from long-range firing position to firing position easily. The excellent sights will provide the opportunity to spot and engage enemies from afar, especially with the help of thermals, and the near-instant-use laser rangefinder means your gun will automatically elevate or depress to the correct distance setting within your aiming parameters, significantly easing your main downside of having to hit near the turret or hull roof specifically to cause proper overpressure damage. It is to be noted however that while the VIDAR itself is mobile, the turret traverse in the horizontal can be lacking. It is recommended to always point your turret towards potential enemies while on the move, should you encounter someone on the way to another area of the map. It is also noteworthy to keep the tank's limited gun depression in mind, as this may prove a hindrance on slopes or terrain with frequent vertical elevation changes. Try and find gentle slopes or flat ground if possible, as the VIDAR's large size and poor gun depression limit its effectiveness around hilly terrain.

The option of HE-VT means the VIDAR can successfully engage aircraft. Using the laser rangefinder, one can target both hovering and moving helicopters at range. However, it is somewhat inadvisable to aim at aircraft with the shells available unless they are flying directly at you - mostly due to M107 (PF)'s middling shell velocity of only 580 m/s, almost half that of your nominal HE shell (OE F3 155 mm) which flies at 935 m/s - meaning that hitting enemy aircraft unless highly experienced in other contemporaries which use the same shell will prove surprisingly difficult. It may help to just take a few shots, however, given that you are safe, as if your aim is true you can prove to the enemy that you are a force to be reckoned with and that there is no escape.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great firepower
  • High reload rate for the first 3 ready rack shells
  • Agile and nimble chassis
  • Thermal imager and laser rangefinder
  • 35 mm average all-around armour
    • Can't be overpressured from <120 mm HE
    • Cannot be penetrated by HMGs
    • Can't set off some APHE rounds

Cons:

  • Weak survivability
    • Only partial protection from autocannons
  • Poor gun depression
  • Relatively small first-stage ammo rack
  • HE-VT has low velocity compared to contemporaries like the Bkan 1C or Type 99's HE-VT
  • Lack of gun/sight stabilization

History

The Versatile InDirect ARtillery is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self Propelled Artillery System, in service with the Norwegian Army. Norway decided to acquire a total of 24 K9 Thunder systems as well as 6 K10 ammo resupply vehicles in 2017 to replace their aging American-made M109A3GNM. The K9 won out in the competition which consisted of the CAESAR wheeled artillery system, the K9, German PzH2000 and M109G, with the M109G and K9 being the final two contenders before the K9 was selected in December of 2017 as the winner.

The VIDAR is operated by the only artillery unit in the Norwegian Army, the Artilleribataljonen of the Brigade Nord. The vehicle was manufactured by the company Hanwha Land Systems, deliveries started in 2019 and finished between 2020 and 2021. All units were considered operational by the Norwegian Army by January 1st, 2022. In November of 2022, Norway inked an additional deal to import 4 more K9 SPHs and 8 more K10 ammo resupply vehicles, raising the total to 28 VIDARs and 14 K10s soon to be in service.

The K9 Thunder was developed by South Korea, based on experiences with the K55 license-produced M109 howitzer. The vehicle was developed to be fully compatible with NATO ammunition, and to have good mobility to perform counterbattery fire and change positions rapidly. The K9's first prototype was unveiled in 1996. The contract for its development was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries and just 3 years later in 1999 the ROK Army started to receive its first units of the vehicle. The first nation to acquire the production rights for the system was Turkey.

The K9 has seen combat action in the Yeonpyeong bombardment of 2010, an artillery exchange between South Korean and North Korean soldiers. In this incident, 6 K9 systems from the South Korean Marine Infantry opened fire against North Korean positions. During the incident, some criticism was leveled at the K9 due to its return rate of fire being 1 round every 90 seconds - however, this was due to the fact that the K9's ammunition reserves were empty from the military exercise just minutes prior, meaning soldiers were running to the ammunition depots to fetch shells to fire back. The Korean Army deemed the K9's protection during the incident to be adequate against North Korean field gun shrapnel, and increased production of the K9 by a hundred extra units by 2011. This led to the K9s positioned near the border also retaining internal ammunition at all times, in case of a similar incident in the future.

The K9 has received very good export deals. Competing in the international markets with very powerful systems like the American M109 and German Pzh2000, it has sold more than 1,700 units, including those for South Korea. Turkey has also fitted their own version of the system, the T-155 Firtina, with 300 units expected to be deployed.

In December of 2013, the program to improve the K9's performance was passed, which led to the K9A1. The K9A1 modification upgraded the FCS of the K0 up to K55A1 standard, added GPS navigation on top of the original INS system, the addition of an APU and a night vision periscope for the driver as well as a rear view camera. The software was also updated from a DOS based framework up to a Windows based digital FCS, to provide a graphics based fire control system for the crew to enhance performance.

Media

  • XK-9 (The predecessor to the K9/K9A1, produced in 1995 for testing) on display at the War Memorial of Korea

Skins
Videos
The Shooting Range #377 - Metal Beasts section at 00:24 discusses the VIDAR.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Sweden tank destroyers
Strv m/41 derivatives  Spj fm/43-44 · Sav m/43 (1944) · Sav m/43 (1946) · Pvkv II · Pvkv III
Ikv 72/103  Ikv 72 · Ikv 103
Pvkv m/43  Pvkv m/43 (1946) · Pvkv m/43 (1963)
ATGM  UDES 33 · Pbv 302 (BILL) · Pvrbv 551
Other  SAV 20.12.48 · Bkan 1C
Norway  VIDAR

Sweden premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  ▄T-26E · Strv m/39 · Pbil m/40 · Strv m/41 S-I · CV 9035DK · CV 90105
Medium tanks  Sherman III/IV · Strv 81 (RB 52) · Strv 103-0 · Leopard 1A5NO2 · Christian II
Heavy tanks  ▄KV-1 m1942 · Kungstiger
Tank destroyers  Ikv 73 · SAV 20.12.48 · VIDAR

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