The US Army has advanced its self-propelled howitzer modernization effort by awarding Hanwha Defense USA a research and development contract to integrate a 58-caliber cannon into the K9 platform.
The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) follows Hanwha’s recent announcement that it has offered the US Army a wheeled variant of the K9 equipped with a 58-caliber cannon.
The truck-agnostic mobile system is a derivative of the 52-caliber K9A2 self-propelled wheeled howitzer, which is one of five platforms under consideration to address the capability gap left by the cancellation of the Extended-Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program.
It remains unclear which, or how many, variants are being evaluated under the CRADA. According to a Hanwha press release, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center will integrate a US government-designed 58-caliber cannon into Hanwha’s K9 family of vehicles.
“This collaboration with the US Army is a reflection of the versatility of the K9 turret — the centerpiece of Hanwha’s family of Long-Range Precision Fires platforms,” said Hanwha Defense USA Chief Operating Officer Mike Smith.
“The K9 closes capability gaps in volume and rate of fire, range, and rapid resupply, which translates into increased lethality and enhanced survivability of the American warfighter on the battlefield.”
Longer-Range Artillery
The initiative aims to expand artillery capabilities, increasing the effective range of the army’s self-propelled howitzers from approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) to as much as 70 kilometers (43 miles) following the ERCA program’s cancellation due to technical challenges.
Like ERCA, the current effort centers on the use of a 58-caliber barrel to significantly extend projectile range.
In addition to Hanwha, BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, Elbit Systems, and General Dynamics have been selected to demonstrate candidate systems.
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with the US Army to develop a 52-caliber version of the M109 self-propelled howitzer, while Rheinmetall has offered its RCH 155 wheeled artillery system for evaluation.
Hanwha’s Offering
For the modernization effort, Hanwha previously proposed the 52-caliber K9A2, an upgraded version of the widely deployed K9 Thunder tracked howitzer.
The K9A2 would be paired with the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, capable of carrying up to 104 rounds and transferring up to 12 rounds per minute, significantly improving sustained fire rates and battlefield effectiveness.
Hanwha has also indicated its willingness to adapt the tracked variant to US Army requirements and establish a fully domestic supply chain to support production.
“The K9 is in service in nearly every potential theater of battle,” said Hanwha Defense USA CEO Michael Coulter.
“Of the five NATO nations that share a land border with Russia, four rely upon the K9 for Long-Range Precision Fires capability.
This broadly dispersed base provides a global sustainment network that is unmatched. Wherever the US Army goes, in all likelihood the K9 is already there.”
