HANWHA Defense USA (HDUSA) announced it won a contract from the US Army to deliver prototype K9 Mobile Howitzers (K9MH) for the Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) programme, with an agreement for the accelerated delivery of six prototype MTC systems, with an option for an additional 12. This award marks HDUSA’s first major contract with the US Army and a major milestone for the South Korean firm and the nation’s push to become among the top defence exporters in the world.
Hanwha’s proposed K9MH is a 8×8 wheeled variant of the extremely popular tracked K9 Thunder and features a fully automated turret capable of loading and firing shells and propellants without human intervention, making it a next-generation model.
A US Army release stated: “Awarded competitively under an Other Transaction Authority (10 U.S.C. Section 4022), the firm-fixed-price agreement will provide the Army with up to 18 wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems for rapid prototyping, testing, and Soldier experimentation over an estimated four-year period of performance. The amount of this action is US$100,302,961 with a total cumulative face value of US$262,903,274.”
“The agreement provides for the accelerated delivery of six prototype MTC systems, with an option for an additional 12. Soldiers will use these platforms in a series of operational experiments to assess performance, reliability, and supportability in realistic combat conditions. This Soldier-centric, experiment-driven approach reflects the Army’s continuous transformation initiative to rapidly deliver lethal capabilities, incorporate immediate Soldier feedback, and adapt the force to pace emerging threats in multi-domain operations”, the statement continued.
HDUSA will provide a technically superior and rapidly fieldable 155mm artillery system that supports the US Army’s modernisation and long-range precision fires objectives. With more than 2,500 K9 Howitzers already fielded globally, Hanwha is uniquely positioned to partner with the US Department of War (DOW) to establish high-volume industrial capacity centred around the company’s wartime production ethos.
The US Army release had also stated that “Data and insights gained from these experiments will directly inform senior leaders’ decisions on future fielding. If approved for fielding, MTC will replace M777 towed artillery systems in select formations, significantly increasing their lethality, mobility, reliability, and survivability on the modern, highly transparent battlefield. By rapidly prototyping these systems, the Army is advancing a more mobile and adaptable fires formation aligned with the rigorous demands of large-scale combat operations.”
Hanwha’s phased-in localisation strategy with domestic production and support means America’s defence industrial base will benefit from advanced manufacturing techniques, demonstrated technology, and good jobs. HDUSA is establishing a Phase I site in Opelika, Alabama, that will serve as the US integration and test facility for Hanwha’s family of K9 Mobile Howitzers. HDUSA signed a three-year lease as part of the company’s strategic commitment to invest in the US artillery system supply chain, enhance America’s combat vehicle industrial base, and serve as a long-term artillery modernisation partner to the U.S. Army.
“We’re honoured that the US Army has selected Hanwha’s K9 Mobile Howitzer to fulfil its Mobile Tactical Cannon requirement. The K9MH is the total artillery solution and will be the centerpiece of Army Fires’ transformation into a more modern, more lethal force,” said HDUSA COO and President of Land Systems Mike Smith. “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.”
“Hanwha’s global supply chain and local production experience in Australia, Egypt, Poland, and Romania demonstrate a proven commitment to local execution we’re excited to bring to the US,” said HDUSA’s CEO Michael Coulter. “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 U.S., whether it be in shipbuilding, munitions, or combat vehicles.”
Compatible with the Army’s full suite of munitions, the K9MH’s selection means the US has now joined nearly a dozen allies who share a global industrial network and supply chain. HDUSA will continue to evaluate future phases and locations as the company expands its U.S. artillery systems footprint and production capacity. The company is committed to engaging with suppliers and developing the workforce of the future necessary for long-term sustainment and technology insertion activities.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:HANWHA)
