The US Army has selected Hanwha Defense USA to develop and deliver K9 Mobile Howitzer prototypes under its Mobile Tactical Cannon program.
The US Army has selected Hanwha Defense USA to develop and deliver wheeled K9 Mobile Howitzer (K9MH) prototypes under its new Mobile Tactical Cannon program, which aims to replace M777 towed artillery systems in select formations.
Under the $100.3-million agreement, Hanwha will rapidly deliver six mobile 155mm howitzers, with an option for 12 additional systems. The agreement’s total cumulative value is $262.9 million.
The program seeks to provide more lethal, mobile, automated, and survivable systems suited to the modern battlefield. Initial fielding is planned for Stryker brigade combat teams, followed by mobile and infantry brigade combat teams.
The K9MH is a wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer based on the tracked K9 Thunder.
“We’re honored that the U.S. Army has selected Hanwha’s K9 Mobile Howitzer to fulfill its Mobile Tactical Cannon requirement,” Hanwha Defense USA COO and President of Land Systems Mike Smith said.
“The K9MH is the total artillery solution and will be the centerpiece of Army Fires’ transformation into a more modern, more lethal force,” he 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.”
Competitive Award
The award follows an extensive period of market research and industry engagement, including multiple vendor demonstrations conducted in the US and overseas.
Other competitors included an Anduril-Elbit America-Oshkosh Defense team offering the SIGMA 155mm system; Leonardo DRS and KNDS, offering a CAESAR howitzer variant; and Rheinmetall’s US subsidiary, offering its wheeled howitzer. BAE Systems’ US subsidiary, which produces the army’s M109A7 Paladin, also reportedly participated in the competition.
Following delivery, soldiers will conduct operational experiments to assess the platforms’ performance, reliability, and supportability, with the evaluation expected to take about four years.
Hanwha plans to localize K9MH production and support in the US, strengthening the country’s defense industrial base. As part of this effort, Hanwha Defense USA is establishing an integration and test facility in Opelika, Alabama.
