AM General to deliver Hawkeye 105mm howitzers to Kosovo under first acquisition contract.

AM General announced on December 16, 2025, in Pristina that it has signed the first contract for the Humvee Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Howitzer System with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo.

AM General announced on December 16, 2025, in Pristina that it has signed a three-year Direct Commercial Sale framework contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo for Humvee Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Howitzer Systems. The agreement, the first Humvee Hawkeye sale executed under a multi-year framework structure, covers howitzer vehicles, Humvee-family support trucks, spare parts, training, and maintenance services. Deliveries are expected to begin within two years under a phased fielding plan.
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The Hawkeye's maximum rate of fire is listed as 8 rounds per minute for three minutes, with a sustained rate of 3 rounds per minute, while the maximum range reaches 11.6 km using Charge 7 and up to 19.5 km with rocket-assisted projectiles. (Picture source: AM General)

The contract scope encompasses not only the howitzer firing platforms but also the supporting vehicles required to operate them as a functional artillery unit. In addition to the gun vehicles, the framework includes ambulances, command-and-control trucks, and other support trucks drawn from the Humvee family. Spare parts, training activities, and maintenance services are incorporated into the same structure, linking procurement with long-term operational support. By combining weapons, mobility, medical support, communications, and logistics assets, the package focuses on unit-level employment rather than individual systems. This approach addresses the full cycle of indirect-fire operations, including command, casualty evacuation, and ammunition handling. The expected delivery schedule allows time for training, integration, and support arrangements before operational use. The overall structure reflects an emphasis on building a complete artillery capability.

Kosovo’s current artillery and indirect-fire inventory is limited and largely centered on mortars rather than tube artillery. This Security Force operates 81mm mortars, including Yugoslav M69 and M69A variants, in limited numbers, typically assessed as platoon- and company-level assets rather than massed batteries. It also fields 120mm mortars, most commonly identified as Yugoslav M74 systems, with quantities generally described as small and sufficient for training and basic operational readiness rather than sustained fire missions. Exact numbers of these mortars are not officially detailed, but the overall inventory is understood to be measured in dozens rather than hundreds across calibers. Kosovo does not operate any towed 105mm or 122mm howitzers, nor any tracked or wheeled self-propelled artillery systems, therefore emphasizing portability over depth of fire. As a result, the introduction of a truck-mounted 105mm howitzer would represent a shift toward longer-range indirect fire while remaining compatible with Kosovo’s existing light force structure.

The Humvee Hawkeye concept is centered on integrating a 105mm artillery system onto a light tactical vehicle using Soft Recoil Technology. This recoil management approach allows the cannon to be fired from a Humvee platform while limiting stress on the vehicle structure. The system is described as enabling rapid emplacement, firing, and displacement in support of mobile artillery tactics. The full sequence from arrival to departure is stated as taking under 90 seconds, reducing vulnerability to counterbattery fire compared with traditional towed howitzers. The 2-CT Hawkeye configuration is described as a two-truck system without trailers. Within this concept, a two-round fire mission followed by departure from the firing position in about three minutes is highlighted. This timeline includes roughly 1.5 minutes to the first round fired, supporting a shoot-and-move employment method.

The Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Howitzer System is mounted on a Humvee 2-CT two-door cargo truck, paired with a second 2-CT vehicle dedicated to ammunition support. The howitzer carrier has a gross vehicle weight of about 6,396 kg. Payload capacity is listed as approximately 1,420 kg with an A-Kit and about 803 kg with both A- and B-Kits installed, with seating for two soldiers. Mobility characteristics include anti-lock braking, approach and departure angles of 22 degrees, and a ramp breakover angle of 25 degrees. The vehicle uses 37 x 12.5R-16.5 tires. Water fording capability is rated to 76 cm, supporting movement across varied terrain and shallow water obstacles.

The accompanying ammunition support vehicle is also listed at a gross vehicle weight of about 6,396 kg, maintaining commonality with the gun vehicle. Payload capacity is higher, at approximately 2,744 kg with an A-Kit and about 2,127 kg with A- and B-Kits, and it provides seating for four soldiers. Mobility figures include anti-lock braking, a 48.8-degree approach angle, a 38.2-degree departure angle, and a 25-degree ramp breakover. The vehicle is rated to climb obstacles up to 45.72 cm and uses the same tire specification as the howitzer carrier. Water fording capability is listed as 76 cm, extendable to 152 cm with a dedicated kit. Available options include a Gunner’s Protection Kit, a manual turret, and an international gross vehicle weight upgrade kit, while electrical power is provided through a dual-voltage 14V and 28V system.

Both the howitzer carrier and the ammunition support vehicle share the same powertrain configuration. This includes a 4-speed automatic transmission and a 2-speed transfer case with a high ratio of 1:1 and a low ratio of 2.72:1. Front and rear hypoid differentials are specified with a 3.08:1 ratio. The engine is a V8 6.5-liter turbocharged diesel producing 153 kW at 3,400 rpm and 553 N·m of torque at 1,800 rpm. Fuel capacity is listed as about 95 liters, shaping operational range and refueling requirements. These shared mechanical characteristics support logistical simplicity and common maintenance practices across the paired vehicles operating together in the artillery role.

The weapon system itself is a 105mm M20 cannon equipped with a hydro-pneumatic soft recoil mechanism and an aluminum alloy carriage. Traverse is listed at 180 degrees, or 3200 mils, with elevation ranging from -5 to +72 degrees. The system is rated to operate in temperatures from -40°C to +52°C. Fire control arrangements include optical components, with a digital option identified as the MG9000 system. Integrated subsystems include an LN-270 inertial navigation system, an MVR-700C muzzle velocity radar, a DFS-02 direct-fire camera, and a GPS antenna. The howitzer is compatible with multiple 105mm ammunition types, including all NATO-standard cartridges and fuzes. The maximum rate of fire is listed as 8 rounds per minute for three minutes, with a sustained rate of 3 rounds per minute. Maximum range is stated as 11.6 km using Charge 7 and up to 19.5 km with rocket-assisted projectiles.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.