푸틴, 한국에 밀렸다 — K-9 자주포, 러 주력 무기 꺾고 인도 300문 'PICK' 받은 비결

The Indian Army's decision to place a third additional order for 300 K-9 Vajra units is reportedly the result of fierce competition with the Russian Musta-S self-propelled howitzer until the very end. Russia proposed a new Musta-S model that upgraded its 152mm gun to the 155mm NATO standard, but it revealed fatal flaws during evaluations in the Himalayan highlands (4,000–5,000m above sea level), including reduced power pack output, failure to maneuver on steep slopes, and poor chassis shock absorption. In contrast, the K-9 received high praise from the local army for successfully upgrading its power pack for high-altitude terrain, firing hundreds of rounds uninterrupted, and maneuvering over 1,000km under its own power. The additional identification of structural flaws in the Musta on the Ukrainian battlefield—such as its short range (25km for early models), inadequate digital fire control, and vulnerability of its upper armor to suicide drones—also played a decisive role. 📌 Key Points Competitive Landscape: K-9 Vajra vs. Musta-S (155mm NATO Upgrade) — Fierce Competition Until the End Factors Contributing to K-9's Victory: Overwhelming superiority in high-altitude power pack upgrades, TOT firing capability, and suspension shock absorption Musta-S Flaws: Degraded high-altitude power pack performance, range of 25km (K-9 40km+), and insufficient digitalization Lessons Learned from Ukraine: Musta's upper armor vulnerability (indirect explosion from suicide drones), deployment limited to rear areas, and poor combat performance Ripple Effects: Interest in the K-9 is expected to rise among African, Southeast Asian, and Latin American countries operating Russian-made self-propelled howitzers 📰 Source: Seoul Shinmun (June 15, 2026)