VIDAR

VIDAR

VIDAR

Sweden

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.0	8.0	8.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Tank destroyer

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Description

The Versatile InDirect ARtillery is a self-propelled artillery system employed by Norway since 2022. The system is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Artillery Gun. Norway acquired the system to replace its aging M109A3GNMs of American origin. Norway acquired a total of 24 K9 Thunder artillery systems. The deliveries started in 2019 and concluded in 2021. The system has some differences compared to the South Korean version, like a combined NBC protection and air conditioning situated at the rear of the turret. This system was given to the Artilleribataljonen of the Brigade Nord, the only artillery unit in the Norwegian army.

Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", the VIDAR is fitted with excellent optics and fire control system. At its BR, it is one of the few vehicles with both thermal imaging system and a laser rangefinder. However, the VIDAR lacks substantial armour. Its best round is a 155 mm HE shell that is capable of destroying most tanks but requires very good aiming when it faces heavily armoured targets like the T-55AMD. The vehicle also has a poor turret rotation speed and no stabilizer, and, being an artillery system, the gun depression is very mediocre. However, it has good mobility for a vehicle of its size, and a very good reverse speed of 42 km/h.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull40 / 35 / 35

Turret35 / 35 / 35

Crew5 people

Visibility102 %

The VIDAR is based on ROKA's K9A1 Thunder SPH, although the vehicle can be said as one of the most modern vehicle in-game, the overall survivability is still not for frontline operations due to its nature of a SPH. The purpose of protection for SPH is for stopping rifle-caliber bullets and close-call shrapnel from injuring the crew, supporting vehicles like such are usually deployed at the rear of battlefield to support the assault forces - this is no exception for VIDAR; but thanks to the overall improved armor technology, the harden armor on both the chassis and turret can now make sure even .50 cal cannot harm the crew by any means up-front, but do not take it as a medallion to go for the frontline - autocannons can still tear down the vehicle with relative ease. But be extra careful on the flank and rear as these parts are not rated for extensive protections, so having a teammate to cover the flank is always a good idea to extend VIDAR's service life as long as possible.

As for the crews, thanks to the long hull and large engine block, shrapnel from enemy shots might have a hard time to cause lethal damage to the turret crew (but costs the driver); if enemy players do aware the huge turret, the crew of four can have a very bad day where they will be knock-down by the projectile or the detonation of up to 48 shells at the rear of the turret - which can be a huge fireworks as the turret can fly hundreds of meters away.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	40 mm	35 mm Top 35 mm Bottom	35 mm	10 - 35 mm
Turret	35 mm Turret front 20 mm Gun mantlet	35 mm	35 - 45 mm	35 mm
Cupola	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB73 / 44 km/h

RB and SB68 / 40 km/h

Number of gears8 forward

4 back

Weight48.0 t

Engine power

AB1 908 hp

RB and SB1 000 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB39.8 hp/t

RB and SB20.8 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	73	44	48	1,420	1,908	29.58	39.75
Realistic	68	40		884	1,000	18.42	20.83

To drive the K9 series at its enormous size and up to 48 t in mass, ROKA seek STX Engine-MTU joint-venture for the MTU 881Ka-500 V8 engine and SNT Dynamics-Allison joint-venture for the X1100-5A3 transmission, which pushes the vehicle at up to 68 km/h while maintaining a very fast reverse speed (at -38 km/h), making it a very mobile SPH for its size.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB2 795

RB2 901

SB3 593

Crew training10 000

Experts440 000

Aces1 100

Research Aces1 340 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 150 / 210 / 250 %

2 × 190 / 190 / 190 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Suspension Brake System Filters Transmission Engine	Improved Parts Improved FPE Crew Replenishment	Horizontal Drive 155mm_M110_Smoke_ammo_pack Adjustment of Fire Elevation Mechanism 155mm_M107_HE_PF_ammo_pack NVD 155mm_NATO_HE_ammo_pack Laser rangefinder

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Thermal imager

Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

155 mm CN98 cannon

Ammunition48 rounds

First-order2 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

7.8 → 6.0 s

Vertical guidance-2° / 70°

For countering possible enemies, Hyundai WIA developed the domestic 155 mm CN98 L/52 howitzer for K9 Thunder using NATO standard 155 mm ammunition, it is no exception for the export VIDAR for Norway; thanks to its rather fast reload rate (for the first three shells on the "ready-rack") the and varieties of ammunitions, CN98 makes VIDAR a fearsome SPH even against "doomsday tank" and early-Cold War tanks, enemy aircrafts will also fall victim of it if VT shell is loaded, turning it into a 155 mm anti-aircraft cannon.

155 mm CN98					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	48	-4°/+70°	±180°	-	8.8	12.2	14.8	16.4	17.4	7.80	6.90	6.36	6.00
Realistic					5.9	7.0	8.5	9.4	10.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
M107	HE	61	61	61	61	61	61
M107 (PF)	HE-VT	61	61	61	61	61	61
OE F3	HE	61	61	61	61	61	61

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M107	HE	563	43.1	0.3	0.1	9.14	79°	80°	81°
OE F3	HE	935	44.4	0.3	0.1	9	79°	80°	81°

Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Arming distance (m)	Trigger radius (m)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
									0%	50%	100%
M107 (PF)	HE-VT	580	43.1	0	0	300	3	9.14	79°	80°	81°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
M110	563	40.8	21	5	30	50

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
48	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-6° / 15°

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	600 (200)	575	-6°/+15°	±180°

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Great firepower
• Great reload
• Agile
• Thermal Imager and Laser Rangefinder

Cons:

• Poor protection
• Poor gun depression
• Relatively small first-stage ammo rack and slow replenishment

History

The Versatile InDirect ARtillery is an export version of the South Korean K9 Thunder Self Propelled Artillery System, in service with the Norwegian Army. Norway decided to acquire a total of 24 K9 Thunder systems as well as 6 K10 resupply vehicles to replace their aging American-made M109A3GNM.

The VIDAR is operated by the only artillery unit in the Norwegian Army, the Artilleribataljonen of the Brigade Nord. The vehicle was manufactured by the company Hanwha Land Systems, deliveries started in 2019 and finished between 2020 and 2021. All units were considered operational by the Norwegian Army by January 1st, 2022.

The K9 Thunder was developed by South Korea, inspired by the American M109 Paladin. The vehicle was meant to be compatible with NATO projectiles and have good mobility to counteract counterbattery fire and change positions quickly and safely. The K9's first prototype was unveiled in 1996. The contract for its development was awarded to Samsung Aerospace Industries and just 3 years later in 1999 the ROK Army started to receive its first units of the vehicle. The first nation to acquire the production rights for the system was Turkey.

The K9 has only seen action in the Yeonpyeong bombardment of 2010, an artillery exchange between South Korean and North Korean soldiers. In this incident, 6 K9 systems from the South Korean Marine Infantry opened fire against North Korean positions.

The K9 has received very good export deals. Competing in the international markets with very powerful systems like the American M109 and German Pzh 2000, it has sold more than 1,700 units, including those for South Korea. Turkey has also fitted their own version of the system, the T-155 Firtina, with 300 units expected to be deployed.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the vehicles;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Sweden tank destroyers
Strv m/41 derivatives	Spj fm/43-44 · Sav m/43 (1944) · Sav m/43 (1946) · Pvkv II · Pvkv III
Ikv 72/103	Ikv 72 · Ikv 103
Pvkv m/43	Pvkv m/43 (1946) · Pvkv m/43 (1963)
ATGM	UDES 33 · Pbv 302 (BILL) · Pvrbv 551
Other	SAV 20.12.48 · Bkan 1C
Norway	VIDAR