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Korea Seen as the Rising Star of the Self-Propelled Artillery Market

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NEWTOWN, Conn: The international market for self-propelled artillery remains robust. In its annual analysis "The World Market for Self-Propelled Artillery Systems" the Forecast International Weapons Group forecasts the international market will produce over 4,200 self-propelled artillery systems -- worth in excess of $13.99 billion -- over the coming 10 year forecast period.

In terms of technical trends, most developmental efforts currently concentrate on three main areas: self-propulsion, ordnance and ammunition standardization, and ammunition development. The various players in the international market are adapting to an evolving market environment, precipitated by the end of the Cold War and the emergence of new threat scenarios and military doctrines.

Dean Lockwood, a weapons systems analyst at Forecast International, notes that the days of the U.S. and Europe dominating new production in the international self-propelled artillery market appear to be long gone. The international weapons glut and the influx of new players have combined to shift control of the market away from the traditional U.S. and European players. However, these traditional players continue to dominate the rather exclusive high end of the market, while the new players have effectively taken over the significantly larger lower end of the market.

According to Lockwood, "The rising star of the international market is now the South Korean firm Samsung Techwin." Between licensed production of the M109A2 and production of the K9 Thunder, Samsung Techwin has emerged as the most significant single player on the international self propelled artillery market. Accounting for over 25 percent of all new production – worth over 33 percent of the total market value – this relative newcomer to the market will, in effect, carry the market for the next decade with its existing domestic and Turkish contracts.


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