WASHINGTON, United States: The US Army awarded a K9MH artillery contract worth up to USD 262.9 million to Hanwha Defence USA for its Mobile Tactical Cannon programme.
Hanwha will initially deliver six 8×8 K9 Mobile Howitzer prototypes under a four-year contract, according to the supplied report. The Army can order 12 additional systems.
The Mobile Tactical Cannon programme is evaluating wheeled 155mm artillery to eventually replace the Army’s towed M777 howitzers.
The Army said the prototypes will undergo operational trials covering performance, reliability and supportability under realistic combat conditions.
Results will inform future fielding decisions. Hanwha Defense USA is a subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace.
Read: Iran Nuclear Retaliation Warning Targets Any US Strike
The company also plans a howitzer manufacturing facility in Opelika, Alabama. Chief Executive Michael Coulter said localisation was central to Hanwha’s US industrial strategy.
Read: South Korea-US Drills Cut After Trump Order, Seoul Says
The Army evaluated competing systems including Elbit Systems’ Sigma, Rheinmetall’s RCH155, BAE Systems’ Archer and KNDS’ Caesar.
Hanwha has not disclosed specifications for the selected K9MH configuration. The tracked K9A2 variant uses a 155mm L/52 gun; it is not confirmed whether its capabilities will carry over to the wheeled US prototype.
