The US Army has awarded Hanwha Defense USA a CRADA to advance the integration of a 58-caliber cannon on the K9 self-propelled artillery platform, marking a significant move in the service’s howitzer modernization program.
Hanwha had earlier proposed a wheeled version of the K9 equipped with the 58-caliber gun, derived from the 52-caliber K9A2 wheeled howitzer, which is among five platforms considered to replace the canceled ERCA program. The truck-agnostic design allows flexibility in deployment across different operational environments.
The CRADA calls for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center to install a US-designed 58-caliber barrel, increasing effective artillery range from about 30 km to as much as 70 km. This initiative seeks to replicate ERCA’s extended-range objectives.
Other firms, including BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, Elbit, and General Dynamics, are participating in the evaluation process. Hanwha’s K9A2, when combined with the K10 resupply vehicle, will provide high sustained fire capability, while the company has committed to customizing the system to meet US Army requirements and building a domestic supply chain for production.
