The United States Army has taken delivery of its first Korean-made Mobile Tactical Cannon, marking a major step in its efforts to modernise artillery capabilities and replace ageing weapons systems with more advanced, mobile platforms.
The 155mm self-propelled howitzer, manufactured by Hanwha Defense USA, was delivered less than a year after the Army issued its initial solicitation, highlighting an accelerated approach to military procurement and weapons development.
Brig. Gen. Robert J. “RJ” Mikesh Jr., the Army’s portfolio management executive for offensive fires, disclosed the development during a briefing ahead of the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting.
Mikesh said the system was displayed earlier this month during the Army’s first-ever Modernization Day event on Capitol Hill, adding that the service was preparing to test the platform and obtain feedback from soldiers.
“We’re excited to have that and get ready to test it,” he said, emphasising the importance of soldier feedback in evaluating the system’s operational performance.
In August, the Army announced a four-year prototyping contract with Hanwha worth nearly $263 million, covering the procurement of up to 18 Mobile Tactical Cannon systems for rapid prototyping, testing and soldier experimentation.
The agreement provides for the accelerated delivery of the first six prototypes, with options for up to 12 additional systems.
The new artillery platform is based on Hanwha’s K9 self-propelled howitzer, which has been in service with the South Korean military since 1999 and has variants operating in 10 other countries.
The wheeled Mobile Tactical Cannon is intended to replace the US Army’s M777 155mm howitzers, which have been in service since 2005. The Army plans to prioritise its initial deployment to Stryker Brigade Combat Teams before expanding fielding to Mobile and Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.
According to the Army, the system will undergo operational experiments to determine whether it can perform reliably under realistic combat conditions. Hanwha has also announced plans to establish an integration and testing facility in Opelika, Alabama, to support the development and production of the artillery systems.
Mikesh attributed the accelerated progress to a closer partnership between the Army and industry, as well as the adoption of more flexible contracting methods that allow the military to leverage mature technologies rather than develop an entirely new design.
Meanwhile, the Army has issued a separate solicitation for a tracked variant of the Mobile Tactical Cannon, signalling plans to explore additional configurations of the platform.
The system is also expected to support the Army’s 155mm Artillery Propulsion Modernization project, which seeks to improve artillery range and performance through advances in propellants, modular charges, ignition systems and ammunition packaging.
The Army’s fiscal year 2027 budget documents indicate that the broader modernisation effort aims to develop an integrated artillery capability capable of engaging targets at distances of up to 70 kilometres.
The M777 howitzer has an effective range of less than 24 kilometres, although its range can extend to approximately 40 kilometres with the extended-range Excalibur projectile. By comparison, the 52-calibre K9 platform has a reported range exceeding 60 kilometres.
The US Army has set 2031 as its target for fielding a ready version of the Mobile Tactical Cannon, as it seeks to strengthen artillery mobility, range and combat effectiveness.
