US Army eyes mobile K9 howitzer to replace M777; India too shifts towards wheeled artillery
The US army has taken a decisive step in its artillery modernisation drive by selecting Hanwha Defense USA to advance in the Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) programme. The South Korean firm will provide up to 18 prototypes of its wheeled K9 Mobile Howitzer for testing and soldier trials over the next four years. The aim of this limited procurement is to explore replacing the US army’s long‑serving M777 towed howitzers with a more mobile, longer‑range system. The Indian army too operates the M777 ultra light howitzer in limited quantities.The K9 Mobile Howitzer is derived from Hanwha’s tracked K9 gun, already in service with South Korea, India, Poland and several other nations. The tracked K9, is one of the most successful defence exports from South Korea. Both versions of the gun mount a 52‑calibre 155mm cannon, capable of ranges up to 60 kilometres, nearly double that of the M777. Wheeled systems offer advantages in mobility and rapid deployment, though tracked designs remain superior in off‑road performance and protection. The US Army has been studying this shift since 2019, and while Hanwha’s selection is significant, it does not guarantee adoption.India, meanwhile, has already well underway on a similar journey under the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan. The plan aims to replace legacy 105mm Indian Field Guns with modern 155mm systems across the gun based units of the Regiment of Artillery. Indigenous projects like the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Dhanush and the Pinaka rocket launcher are central to this effort. The K‑9 Vajra‑T, a variant of Hanwha’s design, has been indigenised with substantial local content and proven its worth in Ladakh. A mobile gun system based on ATAGS is also under development, reflecting India’s emphasis on mobility and precision.Private industry has joined the push, with the Kalyani Group’s Bharat‑52 and MaRG 39 guns complementing Tata and L&T’s contributions. Together, these efforts highlight a synergy between public and private sectors in building a self‑reliant artillery ecosystem.The US Army’s move to test the K9 Mobile Howitzer mirrors India’s own plans of adding wheeled self propelled guns in order to operate them in conjunction with towed systems. This will provide mobile, long‑range platforms. For both nations, the shift demonstrates a broader recognition that modern artillery must combine range, mobility and precision firepower to remain decisive on future battlefields.
