
Hanwha Aerospace Co.’s K9MH self-propelled howitzer is seen on this file photograph supplied by the corporate, Aug. 19. Yonhap
The U.S. Military has obtained its first South Korean-made cell howitzer system as a part of efforts to interchange its growing older artillery methods, a U.S. protection information outlet reported Monday.
The Cell Tactical Cannon (MTC), manufactured by Hanwha Protection USA, a U.S. subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace Co., was displayed at a U.S. Military occasion held in Washington earlier this month, Protection Information reported, citing U.S. Military officers.
“We’re excited to have that and prepare to check it,” Brig. Gen. Robert Mikesh Jr., the Military’s portfolio administration government for offensive fires, was quoted as saying. “And get that soldier suggestions, that we expect is so necessary.”
In August, Hanwha Protection USA was chosen to supply prototypes primarily based on a wheeled variant of the bestselling K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery for the MTC program, which goals to develop a extremely cell 155 mm artillery system to interchange the Military’s growing older M777 towed howitzers.
The contract requires the supply of six MTC prototypes, with an possibility for an extra 12 methods, and has a cumulative worth of as much as $262.9 million, in keeping with the U.S. Military.
The self-propelled howitzer relies on Hanwha’s K9 artillery system, which has been operated by the South Korean navy since 1999 and exported to a number of nations.
In keeping with Hanwha, the contract marked the K9 system’s first entry into the U.S. protection market, the world’s largest, and pledged to ascertain a secure manufacturing base as a part of its localization technique.
The U.S. Military plans to deploy the brand new artillery methods initially to Stryker brigade fight groups as a part of its efforts to interchange the M777 towed howitzers, which have been in service since 2005, in keeping with Protection Information.