On 18 August, Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace in South Korea, was awarded a contract to provide its K9 Mobile Howitzer (K9MH) for the US Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) programme.
The MTC programme is seeking a wheeled, 155mm artillery system intended to replace towed M777 howitzers within the US Army.
Under this contract, Hanwha will deliver six prototype 8×8 vehicles on an accelerated schedule, with an option for an additional twelve K9MHs. The initial contract with a four-year timeframe has a ceiling value of US$262.9 million.
Prototypes will, according to the US Army be delivered for “a series of operational experiments to assess performance, reliability and supportability in realistic combat conditions. Data and insights gained from these experiments will directly inform senior leaders’ decisions on future fielding”.
Hanwha USA offered the K9MH, a wheeled variant of the tracked K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer that is fielded by armies in Australia, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, India, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Turkey and Vietnam. In several of these sales, Hanwha has successfully established local production, something that will also be required in the US Army programme should it proceed to full production.
Hanwha Defense USA is standing up a howitzer production facility in Opelika, Alabama.
Michael Coulter, Hanwha Defense USA CEO, shared in a statement: “Localisation is central to Hanwha’s global business model, leveraging our global, leading industrial technology and process in Korea to create sovereign industrial strength in the US, whether it be in shipbuilding, munitions or combat vehicles.”
Mike Smith, Hanwha Defense USA COO and President of Land Systems, added: “The US Army’s selection is a testament to our track record of delivering devastating capability at speed, at scale, on cost and onshore. As the wheeled variant of the K9, the K9MH provides an expansion path towards a tracked capability with designed-in margin for the future fight. And with such a capability, that fight will not be a fair one.”
The US Army had evaluated other candidates such as the Sigma from Elbit Systems of America (partnering with Anduril and Oshkosh Defense); the RCH155 by American Rheinmetall Vehicles; the Archer from BAE Systems; and the KNDS Caesar teamed with Leonardo DRS and General Dynamics Land Systems.
Although the specifications and performance of the K9MH have not yet been revealed, the K9 from which it evolved is, in its latest developmental A2 version and due for completion next year, considered one of the most advanced howitzers in the world.
The K9A2 has an enhanced L/52-calibre 155mm gun manufactured by Hyundai WIA, with a maximum firing range of 41km with K307 rounds. In addition, it employs a new, high-response artillery automation system essential for a future remote-controlled turret that increases the maximum firing rate from 6-8 rounds per minute to 9-10, and a sustained firing rate of 2-3 rounds per minute to 4-6.
It is not known if these attributes are included in the K9MH offered to the USA’s MTC effort.
by Stephen W. Miller
