US Army receives 1st Hanwha-made mobile howitzer system: report

The U.S. Army received its first South Korean-made Mobile Tactical Cannon in Washington earlier this month. Manufactured by Hanwha Defense USA, the system is based on a wheeled variant of Hanwha’s K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery. The program aims to replace aging M777 towed howitzers, initially with deployment to Stryker brigade combat teams.

The Mobile Tactical Cannon program calls for six prototypes, with an option for 12 additional systems, and has a cumulative value of up to $262.9 million.

Hanwha Defense USA was selected in August to provide prototypes for a highly mobile 155 mm artillery system.

Brig. Gen. Robert Mikesh Jr. said the Army would test the system and gather soldier feedback.

The K9 artillery system has been operated by the South Korean military since 1999 and exported to multiple countries.

The M777 towed howitzers have been in U.S. Army service since 2005.

Published Oct 13, 2026 12:05 am KST

Hanwha Aerospace Co.'s K9MH self-propelled howitzer is seen in this file photo provided by the company, Aug. 19. Yonhap

The U.S. Army has received its first South Korean-made mobile howitzer system as part of efforts to replace its aging artillery systems, a U.S. defense news outlet reported Monday.

The Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC), manufactured by Hanwha Defense USA, a U.S. subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace Co., was displayed at a U.S. Army event held in Washington earlier this month, Defense News reported, citing U.S. Army officials.

"We're excited to have that and get ready to test it," Brig. Gen. Robert Mikesh Jr., the Army's portfolio management executive for offensive fires, was quoted as saying. "And get that soldier feedback, that we think is so important."

In August, Hanwha Defense USA was selected to provide prototypes based on a wheeled variant of the bestselling K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery for the MTC program, which aims to develop a highly mobile 155 mm artillery system to replace the Army's aging M777 towed howitzers.

The contract calls for the delivery of six MTC prototypes, with an option for an additional 12 systems, and has a cumulative value of up to $262.9 million, according to the U.S. Army.

The self-propelled howitzer is based on Hanwha's K9 artillery system, which has been operated by the South Korean military since 1999 and exported to multiple countries.

According to Hanwha, the contract marked the K9 system's first entry into the U.S. defense market, the world's largest, and pledged to establish a stable production base as part of its localization strategy.

The U.S. Army plans to deploy the new artillery systems initially to Stryker brigade combat teams as part of its efforts to replace the M777 towed howitzers, which have been in service since 2005, according to Defense News.

本月初，美国陆军在华盛顿接收了首辆韩国制造的移动战术火炮。该系统由韩华防务美国公司制造，基于韩华K9“雷霆”自行火炮的轮式改进型。该项目旨在取代老旧的M777牵引式榴弹炮，初期将部署到“斯特瑞克”旅级战斗队。

移动战术火炮计划需要六个原型，并可选择增购 12 个系统，累计价值高达 2.629 亿美元。

韩华防务美国公司于 8 月被选中，为其提供高机动性 155 毫米火炮系统的原型。

罗伯特·米克什准将表示，陆军将测试该系统并收集士兵的反馈意见。

K9 火炮系统自 1999 年以来一直由韩国军队使用，并出口到多个国家。

M777 牵引式榴弹炮自 2005 年以来一直在美国陆军服役。

发布于2026年10月13日凌晨12:05（韩国标准时间）

这张由韩华航空航天公司提供的资料照片拍摄于8月19日，照片中是该公司生产的K9MH自行榴弹炮。（韩联社）

据美国一家国防新闻媒体周一报道，美国陆军已接收了首套韩国制造的移动式榴弹炮系​​统，这是其替换老旧火炮系统计划的一部分。

据《防务新闻》援引美国陆军官员的话报道，韩国韩华航空航天公司在美国的子公司韩华防务美国公司生产的移动战术火炮（MTC）在本月初于华盛顿举行的美国陆军活动上展出。

“我们很高兴能拥有这项技术，并准备进行测试，”陆军进攻火力项目组合管理执行官小罗伯特·米克什准将表示，“同时，我们也很期待获得士兵的反馈，我们认为这非常重要。”

8 月，韩华防务美国公司被选中为 MTC 项目提供基于畅销 K9 雷霆自行火炮轮式变型的原型机。MTC 项目旨在开发一种高机动性的 155 毫米火炮系统，以取代陆军老旧的 M777 牵引式榴弹炮。

据美国陆军称，该合同要求交付 6 套 MTC 原型机，并可选择额外交付 12 套系统，累计价值高达 2.629 亿美元。

该自行榴弹炮以韩华K9火炮系统为基础，该系统自1999年以来一直由韩国军队使用，并出口到多个国家。

据韩华公司称，该合同标志着K9系统首次进入全球最大的美国国防市场，并承诺建立稳定的生产基地，作为其本土化战略的一部分。

据《防务新闻》报道，美国陆军计划首先将新型火炮系统部署到“斯特赖克”旅级战斗队，以此作为其替换自 2005 年以来一直在服役的 M777 牵引式榴弹炮的举措之一。