Hanwha Aerospace to supply K9 howitzer prototypes to U.S. Army

Hanwha Aerospace, through its subsidiary Hanwha Defense USA, has secured a contract to supply prototypes of the K9 Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer (K9MH) to the U.S. Army. This marks the first time a South Korean-made weapon system has entered the American defense market.

The contract involves the delivery of six initial prototypes, with the potential for up to 18 units to be delivered for performance testing. The U.S. Army plans to conduct approximately four years of operational testing to ensure the equipment meets specific requirements. If the prototypes pass these evaluations, the company could secure a follow-on production contract valued at up to 10 trillion won (approximately $7.2 billion).

To support this expansion, Hanwha has implemented a localization strategy, including leasing a facility in Opelika, Alabama, to establish integration and testing capabilities. The move follows a shift in U.S. Army requirements from tracked to wheeled platforms to enhance mobility for long-distance troop deployments.