Self-Propelled Howitzer
AHS Krab
The AHS Krab is a 155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer made by Huta Stalowa Wola in Poland, in service since 2016. It combines a British AS-90 turret design with a hull based on the South Korean K9 Thunder, and Ukraine has received about 108 units.
Poland|Huta Stalowa WolaWhat Is the AHS Krab? Overview, History and Development
The Krab is a Polish-built hybrid. Its turret descends from the British AS-90 Braveheart and carries a Polish 52-calibre barrel, while the hull is based on the South Korean K9 Thunder chassis after an earlier UK-made chassis plan was dropped. It weighs 48 t, has a crew of 5 and a roughly 1,000 hp MTU engine for about 60 km/h on road. The TOPAZ fire-control system runs the gun, which fires NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition at about 2 rounds per minute sustained.
Range is about 30 km with base-bleed shells and about 40 km with Excalibur guided rounds (commonly cited). Regimental sets reached the Polish Army from 2016, with roughly 60 in service by late 2025 and larger orders reported. Ukraine received 54 Krabs in 2022 and 2023 and about 108 by the end of 2024 (reported), using them in combat against Russian forces. Production is reported at roughly 170 built or contracted. Rivals include the K9 Thunder, PzH 2000, CAESAR, Archer and RCH 155.
AHS Krab Specifications: Weight, Armament, Armor and Mobility
AHS Krab Variants and Versions Compared
Krab is the standard Polish 155 mm/52 howitzer in service since 2016, built with a K9-derived hull.
Krab (K9PL chassis) refers to the Krab hull derived from the Korean K9 Thunder design after the UK chassis plan was dropped.
Krab 2 is the planned improved generation of the Polish howitzer.
Which Countries Use the AHS Krab? Operators and Users
Poland
UkraineAHS Krab FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How many Krab howitzers does Ukraine have?
Ukraine has about 108 AHS Krab howitzers by the end of 2024, according to reports, after receiving 54 in 2022 and 2023. They have been used in combat against Russian forces with reportedly good results.
What is the range of the AHS Krab?
The AHS Krab has a range of about 30 km with base-bleed shells and about 40 km with Excalibur guided ammunition, as commonly cited. Its sustained rate of fire is about 2 rounds per minute.
Is the Krab howitzer NATO compatible?
Yes, the AHS Krab is NATO compatible and fires standard 155 mm NATO ammunition from a 52-calibre barrel. It can work on its own or at battery level through the TOPAZ fire-control system.
Who makes the Krab howitzer?
The AHS Krab is made by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), part of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, in Stalowa Wola, Poland. The turret descends from the British AS-90 and the hull from the Korean K9.
Krab vs K9 Thunder: what is the difference?
The AHS Krab uses a turret derived from the British AS-90 on a hull based on the K9 Thunder chassis, while the K9 Thunder is a complete South Korean Hanwha design. Poland also operates the K9PL separately.
How many Krab howitzers does Poland have?
Poland had roughly 60 AHS Krab howitzers in service by late 2025, according to open sources. Further orders reported run to several hundred, with deliveries through about 2030.