Hanwha Defense displayed its K9 Mobile Howitzer (K9MH) at the Association of the United States Army exhibition in Washington, DC, earlier this month.
This is the first public showing of the howitzer system since its recent August selection by the US Army to fill its Mobile Tactical Truck (MTT) requirements. Designated by the US as the XM1776, the howitzer is intended to replace the towed M777 155/52 mm howitzers in the Stryker Brigades.
According to Hanwha representatives, the K9MH draws on the K9 Thunder Self-Propelled 155mm Howitzer, which is currently fielded by nine armies worldwide. The 155mm X 52 calibre cannon is integrated into a fully enclosed turret mounted on a Tatra heavy 8 X 8 tactical truck. Specifics regarding the capabilities and performance of the K9MH have not yet been officially released by either Hanwha Defense or the US Army. However, assuming it derives from the latest version of the K9A2 Thunder, we can reasonably set some expectations. It will surely have a fully automated turret and a dual-autoloader system with a sustained firing rate of 8 to 9 rounds per minute. A three-person crew operates the cannon from an armoured cab. It has forty ready-to-fire projectiles and 192 propellant charges. The system will also likely be capable of Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) engagement. MRSI is the ability to fire multiple shells on different trajectories, so they hit the target at the same time.
Under the US Army contract, Hanwha will provide an initial prototype for evaluation, followed by eight additional systems. The chassis displayed at AUSA was the third-generation Tatra Force 8 X 8 truck, which is not in US service and would require a new logistics, maintenance, and support network. It is understood that this was the version first delivered to the Army in October. Although Hanwha has indicated that K9MH can be mounted on other heavy truck chassis, it did not state whether a TT is in US Army inventory, such as Oshkosh HEMTT; it could be utilised. The US Army will be the first customer for the K9MH, which has not been previously tested, produced, or fielded, including by the Republic of Korea Army itself.
Hanwha Defense USA has indicated its intent to develop a facility in Opelika, Alabama, to support integration and testing. The Army contract covers four years. The company plans to develop an Artillery Industrial Base Coalition of local US supply-chain sources that will expand American participation in the K9MH production effort. The US Army has not yet announced the total potential fielding numbers or a full-scale production schedule.
by Stephen W. Miller
