The US Army announced on Tuesday, August 18th, that Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, has reached an agreement with the military to supply a new prototype system called the “Mobile Tactical Cannon” (MTC) for the US Army. This marks the first time a South Korean defense company has secured a US military contract involving a “complete weapon system,” signifying a significant milestone.
According to the US Army’s statement, Hanwha will initially deliver 6 sets of K9MH prototype artillery pieces, with an option to purchase an additional 12 sets, making the total contract value approximately $262.9 million, with an initial funding of $100.3 million.
The latest version of the K9MH wheeled self-propelled howitzer integrates an automatic loading system, a 155mm (NATO standard caliber) howitzer with a 52-caliber barrel, and an 8×8 wheeled truck chassis, competing in the global market for a new generation of self-propelled artillery with superior mobility and firepower.
The K9MH, based on the design of the K9 tracked self-propelled howitzer, has a maximum firing rate of 8 to 9 rounds per minute and can store 40 rounds and 192 charges inside the turret. The system utilizes the 8×8 configuration wheeled truck chassis from the Czech company Tatra, replacing the tracked chassis to enhance mobility.
The Army stated that the system will only be considered for mass production and deployment after undergoing soldier field tests and evaluations of its performance, reliability, and maintainability under real combat conditions, with the entire testing and evaluation process expected to take approximately four years. If successful, this system will replace the current M777 towed howitzers in some units, enhancing the army’s lethality, mobility, reliability, and survivability on the battlefield.
Hanwha outperformed international defense giants such as Rheinmetall from Germany, BAE Systems from the UK, Leonardo DRS from Italy, and proposed the K9MH wheeled system based on the K9 self-propelled howitzer in the bidding process.
This winning bid is seen as a significant milestone for Hanwha Aerospace, as the company is leveraging its past success in the global artillery market to compete for important orders in the modernization of US artillery systems. Following the announcement, Hanwha Aerospace’s stock price surged by 9.5% in early trading on Wednesday, in stark contrast to the decline in the South Korean Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), which fell by 6.7% on the same day.
Currently, Hanwha’s K9 self-propelled howitzer system has been exported to more than ten countries, including Poland, Australia, Norway, and Turkey. In 2022, Poland made one of the largest arms procurement deals in history by purchasing 672 K9 vehicles, 1000 K2 main battle tanks, and 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft at once.
Moreover, Hanwha Group’s subsidiary, Hanwha Ocean, has signed a ship maintenance agreement with the US Navy since 2024, acquiring the Philadelphia shipyard by the end of that year. It is also rumored to be involved in the construction of the US Navy’s next-generation frigates for future battlefields. These developments indicate Hanwha’s active involvement in the US defense industry.