T-155 Fırtına (Turkish for Storm) is a Turkish variant of K9 Thunder155 mmself-propelled howitzer originally developed by South Korea.[3][4][5][6][7][8] It is manufactured and assembled by Turkish Land Forces at the 1010th Army Equipment Repair Factory using imported subsystems from Korea.[5][9][10][11][12][13][14] It has an ongoing upgrade project dubbed as T-155 Fırtına II, possibly changing its engine to Turkish origin to avoid Germany's restriction on Turkey's defence sales.
The T-155 retains most of the K9's features, such as the CN98 155 mm barrel and chassis, produced through the technology transfer of Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in South Korea.[3] However, its turret reflects original Turkish design that increases magazine capacity from 24 to 30 while decreasing hull ammunition storage from 24 to 18.[15] APU (auxiliary power unit) is installed while panoramic scope, which is used for manual firing, is removed. Parts of the chassis, the INS (inertial navigation system), and electronic systems such as the radio and FCS (fire control system) were developed in Turkey. Inertial Navigation system was 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.[16]
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 65 km/h.
The gun is produced by MKEK under license by transferring the production technology of the K9's CN98 155 mm barrel from ADD.[3][17] The production rate of the T-155 is 24 units per year. More than 350[18] T-155 Fırtına howitzers were planned to be produced.[19] 281 have been delivered between 2005 and 2010.[20]
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.[22]
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.[23]
Fırtına 2
The new generation model 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.[24]
Turkey: Turkey originally planned to manufacture 350 Fırtına, 280 for Turkish Army and 70 for future customer, by 2011 per agreement with South Korea in exchange for free technology transfer from the Agency for Defense Development of South Korea. Turkey built 280 for its own military.
Potential operators
Qatar: In February 2019, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said he was on the verge of signing an export deal for T-155 with Qatar. As of September 2023, there was no signed contract.[26]
Ukraine: On 5 July 2023, Oleksiy Gromov, Deputy Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said he hoped to acquire a T-155.[27]
Failed bids
Saudi Arabia: The deal didn't go through because Germany's arms embargo prevented it from supplying German MTU engines for the T-155.[28]
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