T-155 Fırtına

T-155 Fırtına (Storm) is the Turkish variant of the K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzer by Samsung Techwin.

Though essentially using the main systems of the K9 howitzer, including the South Korean designed 155/52 caliber gun system, majority of the chassis, automatic ammunition feeding mechanism, and the German designed MTU-881 KA 500 diesel engine, the T-155 has considerable 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. Unlike the K9, T-155 Fırtına lacks commander's digital panoramic sight. 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.

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. The total reported cost of purchase and technology transfer for the Turkish government was $1 billion.

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. Production rate of the T-155 is 24 units per year. From 2001 to December 2009, more than 150 units have been delivered to the Turkish Army. A total of 350 T-155 Fırtına howitzers are planned to be produced.

Ammunition Resupply Vehicle
Recent developments have been made within Turkey to develop an Indigenous Ammunition Resupply Vehicle based on T-155 Fırtına, the Vehicles will have an Ammunition Transfer System similar to that of South Korean K10 ARV. In which a boom is extended towards the rear of the T-155 Fırtına turret where the exchange happens. The Turkish ARV will have Auxiliary Power Unit unlike the K10 ARV, which allows the vehicle's crew to use electronics, communication systems and Ammunition Transfer System to run economically without the main engines being turned on.

Turkey
The Turkish Armed Forces has placed an order to manufacture 300 vehicles in total with 24 vehicles rolling off of the assembly line every year.

Azerbaijan
Talks were held with the Azerbaijani side on the purchase and sale of the military equipment. The sides were expected to sign the contract by the end of 2011. Azerbaijan is now showing interest in the K-9 Thunder.

Operational history
The T-155 Fırtına was first deployed in Operation Sun at the end of 2007 into January 2008 to fight the PKK militants in the northern part of Iraq.

T-155 was used in 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes.

Related Development

 * K-9 Thunder

Similar Vehicles

 * AS-90
 * AHS Krab
 * Msta-S 2S19
 * Type 99 155 mm Self-propelled howitzer
 * Panzerhaubitze 2000