South Korea has launched an education program on the K9 self-propelled howitzer for a group of military personnel from Australia, Poland and Egypt, the Army said Friday. The three-week program, which began July 9, is meant to provide the countries with a better operational understanding of South Korean weapons systems, according to the Army. A total of 14 personnel from the three countries have joined the program to undergo training on the K9's operation and maintenance at the Army's Artillery School in the southwestern county of Jangseong, 250 kilometers south of Seoul. The troops will also hold combined live-fire drills with South Korean personnel after their training at Artillery School, the Army said. A total of nine countries have so far signed deals to operate the K9 howitzer, with Romania most recently joining the list earlier this month. The Army said it plans to launch more education programs for foreign troops on other South Korean weapons systems, including one on the K2 main battle tank in N ovember. South Korea has sought to bolster its presence in the global defense market, with aims to carve out a 5 percent share by 2027 and become the world's fourth-largest defense exporter. Source: Yonhap News Agency