T-155 Fırtına

T-155 Fırtına (English: Storm) is a Turkish 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. The howitzer is essentially a modified version of Republic of Korea K9 Thunder which is developed by Samsung Techwin, now Hanwha Systems and T-155 shares main systems[3] of the K9 Thunder, including the South Korean designed 155/52 calibre gun system, majority of the chassis, automatic ammunition feeding mechanism and the German designed MTU-881 KA 500 diesel engine. However, some modifications were made by Turkey and a few subsystems such as Fire-control Main systems of T-155 were added by Turkey as well. The first batch of eight self-propelled howitzers were made by Samsung Techwin in Republic of Korea and the rest were produced in Turkey under license, which makes T-155 a licensed product and a modified variant of Republic of Korea K9 Thunder.

T-155 Fırtına
TypeSelf-propelled artillery
Place of originRepublic of Korea and Turkey
Service history
WarsKurdish–Turkish conflict[1]
Syrian Civil War
Production history
Designed1998–2001[1]
Produced2004–present[1]
VariantsT-155 Fırtına II[2]
Specifications
MassCombat: 56 tons[1]
Length12 m (39 ft 4 in)[1]
Width3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)[1]
Height3.43 m (11 ft 3 in)[1]
Crew5 (commander, driver, gunner, 2 loaders)[1]
Main
armament
155 mm L52 Artillery Gun[1]
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm machine gun[1]
EngineMTU-881 KA 500 power pack[1]
1,000+ hp[1]
Power/weight17.85 hp/ton[1]
SuspensionHSU[1]
Operational
range
480 km (299 mi)[1]
Maximum speed 66 km/h (41 mph)[1]

Features

The T-155 is essentially a modified Republic of Korea Army K-9 Thunder as both howitzers share the main systems such as the South Korean designed 155/52 caliber gun system, the majority of the chassis, the automatic ammunition feeding mechanism and the German designed MTU-881 KA 500 diesel engine which was employed in the original K-9 Thunder, but has minor differences in its turret design, parts of the chassis, the navigation system, and electronic systems (such as the radio and fire control system), which were developed in Turkey. The T-155 lacks a commander's digital panoramic sight, which the K9 has. Through the Inertial Navigation System produced by ASELSAN, the howitzer is able to determine the coordinates of the targets at 17.5 meters deviation. Fırtına can open fire within 30 seconds.[4]

According to the licence agreement with Samsung Techwin, the first eight T-155s were built in South Korea, while the remaining batch of more than 300 units would be produced in Turkey.[5] The total reported cost of purchase and technology transfer for the Turkish government was $1 billion.[6]

The T-155 Fırtına has a maximum firing range of 40 km, depending on the type of ammunition. It can reach a top speed of 66 km/h and has an operational range of 480 km.

The T-155 howitzers are built at the 1st Army Maintenance Center Command of the Turkish Army in Adapazarı. The gun is produced by MKEK.[7] The production rate of the T-155 is 24 units per year. More than 350[8] T-155 Fırtına howitzers were planned to be produced.[9] 281 have been delivered between 2005 and 2010.[10]

An upgraded version dubbed "Firtina 2" was to begin production in 2017, featuring improvement to range and rate of fire. The new vehicles were to be fitted with remote weapons stations capable of carrying 12.7mm, 7.62mm machine guns and 40 mm grenade launchers.[11]

Poyraz Ammunition Resupply Vehicle

The Poyraz Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV) is an indigenous vehicle with an ammunition transfer system similar to that of the South Korean K10 ARV. The vehicle has a boom that is extended towards the rear of the T-155 Fırtına turret, where the resupply takes place. The Poyraz ARV has an auxiliary power unit, which the K10 ARV lacks, that allows the vehicle's crew to use electronics and communication systems, and to run an ammunition transfer system economically without the main engines being turned on.[12]

The Poyraz ARV can carry up to 96 155 mm shells and is able to transfer 48 shells in 20 minutes. It has a range of 360 km.[13]

Operational history

The T-155 Fırtına was first deployed in Turkey's Operation Sun at the end of 2007 into January 2008 to fight the PKK militants in the northern part of Iraq.[14] It was used in 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes and again during both the Jarabulus offensive (2016) and the Afrin offensive (2018).

Operators

Current operators
  •  Turkey 350. The Turkish Armed Forces placed an order to manufacture 350 vehicles in total, with a claimed 1.6 million USD license fee per vehicle to be paid to South Korea.[15][16][17]The first 8 vehicles were produced in South Korea while the rest has been produced domestically in Turkey according to the license agreement with Samsung Techwin.[18]
  •  Azerbaijan 36.[19]

Future operators

See also

Similar vehicles

References
  1. "T-155". Military Factory. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. https://www.defenceturk.net/firtina-ii-uretimi-yakin
  3. https://www.armyrecognition.com/turkey_army_artillery_vehicle_weapon_systems_uk/t-155_firtina_155mm_self-propelled_howitzer_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video.html
  4. Enginsoy, Umit. "Turkey hit Syria with S. Korean-designed howitzers". Hurriyet Daily News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  5. 삼성 테크윈: 포병장비 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  6. John Pike. "K9 155 mm self-propelled howitzer". Global Security. Archived from the original on 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  7. "MKEK catalogue" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-09.
  8. "IDEF 2019: Turkey's New Generation Firtina SPH unveiled | Jane's 360". www.janes.com.
  9. "Korea seeks to sell tanks to Turkey". Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  10. Medyabar. "TSK'dan Fırtına 2 için Sakarya onayı". Medyabar. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  11. "TSK'ya 'Fırtına 2'ler geliyor". SVT | Savunma ve Teknoloji (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  12. "Mühimmat Transfer Sistemi (MTS)". aselsan.com.tr. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  13. "Türk yapımı 'Poyraz' düşmanların korkulu rüyası oldu!". www.yeniakit.com.tr (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2017-05-06. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  14. "Hürriyet: Hem karadan hem havadan" (in Turkish). April 27, 2008. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  15. "SOUTH KOREA MARKETS K9 THUNDER SP HOWITZER AT EUROSATORY 2016". Quwa Defence News & Analysis Group. 2016-06-14.
  16. "[글로벌-Biz 24] 터키, 한국 명품무기 'K9 자주포' 변형한 'T-155 프르트나' 개발...형제의 난?". Global Economics. 2019-05-31.
  17. "Turkey hit Syria with S. Korean-designed howitzers". Hurriyet Daily News. 2012-10-04.
  18. "Domestically produced defense systems deployed in Afrin offensive". Daily Sabah. 2018-01-27.
  19. "Turkey to start delivery T-155 Firtina 155mm self-propelled howitzer to Azerbaijan 2014". armyrecognition.com.
  20. https://www.armyrecognition.com/february_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/turkey_to_sell_self-propelled_howitzers_to_qatar.html
  21. "Türkiye'nin Katar ve Suudi Arabistan'a Fırtına Obüsü Satışını Almanya Engelledi". Haberler.com.
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