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Topic: Land Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Africa, and Middle East Tags: Artillery, Egypt, Gaza War, Howitzers, Israel, Palestine, and South Korea Egypt’s New Artillery from South Korea Is a Warning to Israel December 31, 2025 By: Brandon J. Weichert
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Egypt’s recent military buildup has been focused on Israel, whose war in Gaza poses a dire threat to Cairo’s national security interests.
Earlier this month, at the Egypt Defense Expo 2025 (EDEX 2025) in Cairo, the Egyptian Armed Forces publicly displayed a complete K9 artillery battery for the first time—including six K9A1EGY 155mm self-propelled howitzers, a K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, and a new K11 Fire Control Vehicle command post.
Egypt’s Quiet Arms Buildup in the Middle East
Egypt is currently undertaking a rapid military expansion and modernization program—one that mirrors several countries in the Greater Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.
The reason for the military modernization is not Iran or concern over terrorism, though the latter is always a concern for the military leadership of Egypt. Instead, the primary reason behind this expansion and modernization is Israel.
Ever since the horrific October 7 terrorist attacks, the Israeli government has retaliated with draconian measures against the Arab denizens of the Gaza Strip. Over time, the Israeli military’s reprisals against Hamas have become indiscriminate in their use of force. Many civilians have been killed, wounded, or displaced. Indeed, independent analysis suggests that the majority of those hurt by the Israeli counterstrikes have not been Hamas terrorists, but ordinary civilians stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Of course, this is by Hamas’ design. The terrorist group has embedded itself within civilian populations and refused to allow them to leave, with the clear intention of driving up civilian casualties and triggering international condemnation of Israel—and boosting its own recruitment. Israel has fallen for this trap—or, in another interpretation of events, has willingly entered it. Since the war began two years ago, Jerusalem has been accused of attempting to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip to make way for future Israeli settlement, a goal that many on Israel’s far right have openly championed.
Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that the scorched earth approach to Gaza that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have undertaken has caused consternation and concern among the region’s leadership—notably among the leaders of the countries closest to Israel, such as Egypt. There are understandable fears in Egypt’s government that Israel is attempting to push most of the Palestinians of Gaza out of their lands and into the Sinai bordering Israel.
The Sinai, of course, belongs to Egypt. Cairo does not want a refugee crisis on its hands. Israel appears unfazed by Egypt’s concerns. So Egypt is rearming and modernizing their forces to better deter Israeli moves.
Artillery Is Still the “King of Battle”
South Korea has partnered with Egypt under a technology transfer plan to provide hundreds of K9s and support systems. These will be assembled in Egypt. Key elements of these weapons will be built in Egypt exclusively over time.
By having the combined K9 guns plus the K10 logistics hub as well as the K11 command vehicle, Cairo is building for itself a self-contained and modern indirect fires unit that can quickly compute and deliver coordinated artillery strikes, according to the online trade publication, Army-Recognition.
These artillery batteries will prove decisive in any future contingency Egypt’s military might be planning for specifically in the Sinai Peninsula. They will be helpful in the Western Desert, as well as the coastal region.
Since the eruption of the Ukraine War, the world has seen the renewed importance of artillery—specifically, newer systems—in frontline situations. The South Koreans have developed a robust network of indirect fires that will stymie any potential advance that the Egyptians worry they’ll soon face.
Purchasing this system from South Korea represents a true evolution in the Egyptian Army’s capabilities, which have until now been stuck in the Soviet era. In the modern age, that’s simply insufficient if a nation intends to have a chance at surviving modern warfare.
Cairo has stated their intention to deploy around 216 K9 howitzers, around 39 K10 ammunition vehicles, and around 51 K11 fire control vehicles over the course of this program.
This deal is a boon both for South Korea, which is quickly becoming a competitive supplier on the global arms export market, and Egypt, which is in desperate need of diversification and modernization of their indigenous arms. The deal between Egypt and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace is worth around $1.7 billion.
The battery displayed at the EDEX 2025 is the first operational set of many to be delivered to the Egyptian Army. It is the start of a revolution in military affairs for Egypt.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. Weichert hosts a companion book talk series on Rumble entitled “National Security Talk.” He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, and the Asia Times. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Yeongsik Im.
The post Egypt’s New Artillery from South Korea Is a Warning to Israel appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org