According to Reuters, Seoul gave its permission to Poland for the transfer of equipment with South Korean parts in it to Ukraine. The weapon in question is the AHS Krab which is based on the same chassis as the Korean K9 Thunder.
Earlier we covered how come the Krab howitzer became a "hybrid" of a British AS-90 howitzer and the Korean K9 Thunder. Now journalists confirmed some details in the backstage of the deal that allowed these weapons to arrive in Ukraine.
Read more: This is How British AS90 and Korean Tanks "Turned Into" Krab SP Howitzers
The export licenses for the transfer of Krab howitzers were issued by Seoul last year, a defense acquisition official told Reuters. This is the first time we hear of South Korea greenlighting arms supplies to Ukraine midst the war with russia, although indirectly.
The transfer of Krabs was reviewed and approved by South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), though the department insists that Korea refrained from providing arms to Ukraine directly.
As a reminder, in addition to the 18 Krab howitzers handed over to the Ukrainian army as military assistance, Ukraine and Poland also made a contract in June 2022 on manufacture and supply of 54 additional pieces in the coming years. The Polish self-propelled 155mm artillery system will likely replace the aging Soviet-made 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm and 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm – main self-propelled howitzers in service with the Ukrainian army.
Read more: Already In Battle: Polish AHS ‘Krab’ Howitzers Fighting russians in Ukraine
