Hanwha is set to unveil a wheeled variant of its K9 self-propelled howitzer, a cutting-edge solution for the U.S. Army’s modernization initiative, in the world’s largest arms market, the U.S.
On Monday, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems announced their participation in the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2025 exhibition, running through Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
This annual event, organized by the AUSA, serves as North America’s premier ground defense showcase. This year’s exhibition is expected to draw around 44,000 attendees from 92 nations, with Hanwha establishing a substantial 279 square meters (about 3,000-square-foot) integrated booth for the occasion.
Hanwha Aerospace will showcase the wheeled K9A2, specifically designed to meet the U.S. Army’s self-propelled artillery modernization requirements. This innovative solution integrates an automatic loading turret onto an 8×8 wheeled chassis.
The U.S. Army is currently seeking next-generation self-propelled howitzers with enhanced range, accuracy, mobility, and improved reloading and sustained fire capabilities. Now in its final performance validation phase following the initiation of system development by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in 2022, the K9A2 boasts an advanced automated ammunition loading system. Its maximum rate of fire is set to increase from six to over nine rounds per minute.
Additionally, Hanwha Aerospace is prioritizing the localization of its Modular Charge System (MCS). The company asserts that Hanwha’s MCS achieves superior quality consistency and production efficiency through state-of-the-art smart factory automation. They further emphasize the MCS’s exceptional safety and efficiency, citing its high compatibility with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-standard 155mm shells and precise control over propellant pressure and range.
In response to the ammunition shortages highlighted by the Ukraine conflict, Hanwha aims to bolster the ammunition supply chain for the U.S. Army and its allies through domestic production of the MCS in the United States.
At the exhibition, Hanwha Systems will present its multi-layered composite defense system, tailored for U.S. homeland security applications. This system features short-range compact active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and anti-drone technologies. Designed to counter the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles and drones in modern warfare, it integrates the detection, identification, and neutralization of aerial threats. This comprehensive approach makes it well-suited for enhancing U.S. border surveillance and security measures, with the short-range AESA radar serving as a critical sensor that significantly boosts the operational effectiveness of Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) systems by detecting and tracking low-altitude aerial threats.
Son Jae-il, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hanwha Aerospace, stated that they’ve developed the capability to offer the U.S. Army an optimal self-propelled artillery solution with the A2, the next-generation model of the K9 that they’re co-developing with the South Korean government. They’re committed to strengthening the U.S.-Korea alliance and fostering economic cooperation in partnership with the Korean government.