Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) has announced a contract with the U.S. Army to deliver prototype K9 Mobile Howitzers (K9MH) under the Army’s new Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) program. The deal calls for the accelerated delivery of six prototype systems, with an option for 12 additional units.
The award marks HDUSA’s first major contract with the U.S. Army.
K9 Mobile Howitzer to Offer a 155mm Artillery System
HDUSA will supply a 155mm artillery system built to support the U.S. Army’s modernization and long-range precision fires goals. The company notes that more than 2,500 K9 Howitzers are already fielded worldwide. Mike Smith, HDUSA’s COO and President of Land Systems, said the K9MH, as the wheeled variant of the K9, offers a path toward tracked capability with built-in margin for future development. “The K9MH is the total artillery solution and will be the centerpiece of Army Fires’ transformation into a more modern, more lethal force,” Smith said.
With the K9MH’s selection, the U.S. joins nearly a dozen allied nations that share a common global industrial network and supply chain. The system is compatible with the Army’s full suite of munitions.
K9 Mobile Howitzer Facility to Be Established in Opelika
HDUSA is setting up a Phase I integration and test facility for its K9 Mobile Howitzer family in Opelika, Alabama, having signed a three-year lease for the site. The move is part of the company’s commitment to invest in the U.S. artillery supply chain and serve as a long-term artillery modernization partner to the Army.
HDUSA CEO Michael Coulter said the company’s global supply chain and local production experience in Australia, Egypt, Poland and Romania would now extend to the United States. Coulter said localization is central to Hanwha’s global business model, with the company’s industrial technology and processes from Korea being used to build sovereign industrial strength in the U.S. across shipbuilding, munitions and combat vehicles.
Hanwha Group Chief Strategy Officer Alex Wong said the contract goes beyond delivering a system, describing it as an effort to build a U.S. manufacturing enterprise, transfer technology and establish a lasting foundation for broader industrial collaboration.
Future Phases Under Evaluation
Jason Pak, HDUSA’s Head of Land Systems-Artillery, said the Opelika, Alabama facility marks the Phase I launch point for a U.S.-anchored K9 Mobile Howitzer manufacturing network. HDUSA said it will continue evaluating future phases and locations as it expands its U.S. artillery systems footprint and production capacity. The company also plans to deepen engagement with suppliers and develop the workforce needed for long-term sustainment and technology insertion work.
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Source: C4Defence-Hanwha
