US Army picks Hanwha for new mobile artillery cannon prototypes
US Army selects Hanwha Defense USA for Mobile Tactical Cannon prototypes, a potential replacement for M777 towed howitzers.
The U.S. Army has selected Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace, to supply prototypes for its new Mobile Tactical Cannon programme. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a significant entry for South Korea's largest defence company into the American weapons market.
The agreement covers the delivery of six systems, with an option for an additional 12, in a contract valued at up to $262.9 million. Following delivery, the systems will undergo soldier testing, and the results will determine whether the artillery piece is approved for field deployment.
If the system is approved, it would replace the M777 towed artillery in selected U.S. Army units, according to the service's statement. The selection represents a milestone for Hanwha Aerospace as it aims to build on its global success in artillery sales to secure a role in U.S. military modernisation efforts.
Hanwha, which South Korean analysts describe as a leading exporter of such systems, has previously sold K9 self-propelled howitzers and other ground systems to countries including Australia, Norway, and Turkey.