U.S. Army may soon test South Korea’s new wheeled K9A2 howitzer.

Hanwha Aerospace USA announced the production of the wheeled variant of the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, with testing by the US Army scheduled in early 2026.

Hanwha Aerospace USA announced on October 9, 2025, that it has begun manufacturing a wheeled version of the K9A2 155 mm self-propelled howitzer for potential use in U.S. Army long-range precision fire programs. Company representatives confirmed that testing is scheduled for early 2026, and the system will be displayed at the Association of the U.S. Army 2025 exposition in Washington, D.C., under the Common Gun System framework that aligns tracked and wheeled artillery configurations for shared logistics and training.
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The new Mobile Howitzer (MH) mounts a K9A2 automatic turret on an 8x8 truck chassis and is now being offered to the U.S. Army as part of ongoing artillery modernization efforts following the cancellation of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ECRA) program. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The wheeled K9 configuration, also known as the wheeled Mobile Howitzer (MH), maintains the same 155 mm turret architecture as the K9A2, incorporating fully automatic loading and firing functions and ammunition storage entirely within the turret. Equipped with a 52-caliber gun common to both the K9A1 and K9A2, the wheeled K9 will be identical to its tracked counterparts, apart from being mounted on a heavy 8x8 truck chassis using an adapter and a stabilizing ring to ensure the accuracy during firing. Ready to fire in under 30 seconds, the Mobile Howitzer carries 30 rounds of 155 mm ammunition and 192 charges, can be operated by a reduced crew of two or three operators, achieves a rate of fire of nine rounds per minute, and can achieve a burst rate of three rounds in 15 seconds.

Hanwha states that the Mobile Howitzer is truck-agnostic, meaning it can be mounted on different 8x8 chassis, including the Czech Tatra 815-7 and American Mack Defense. Moreover, the new 8x8 variant of the K9 Thunder is paired with a wheeled resupply vehicle derived from the K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV), forming a complete operational system. Hanwha notes that this configuration, currently in the prototyping phase, enables customers to select between tracked and wheeled platforms offering the same level of performance, ensuring high mobility, reduced maintenance, and compatibility within existing K9 logistics and fire control networks.

The principal upgrade over existing tracked models lies in the 58-caliber barrel measuring approximately 9 meters in length, representing the longest barrel developed for a 155 mm artillery system to date. This longer gun enables a maximum firing range exceeding 70 kilometers when using guided or base-bleed munitions. A 52-caliber configuration, similar to that of the standard K9A2, remains available for operators preferring conventional setups, offering a firing range of 40 kilometers with standard shells and up to 50 kilometers when using the M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided round. The 58-caliber solution aims to provide a longer reach with reduced crew requirements and faster automation cycles while retaining K9A2’s full autoloading capability. Previous U.S. Army efforts to field a similar barrel length under the XM1299 ERCA program were abandoned due to barrel wear under sustained firing conditions, which Hanwha seeks to address through optimized metallurgy and charge configurations.

The K9A2, from which the wheeled model derives, features several internal and structural upgrades compared to the earlier K9A1. It integrates an automatic turret capable of firing up to ten rounds per minute, new rifling and chrome plating that extend barrel life to approximately 1,500 rounds, an improved modular charge system, an electric drive replacing electrohydraulic systems, and a fire suppression and air-conditioning suite for enhanced crew safety. Composite rubber tracks, supplied by Soucy Defense, reduce vibration and overall vehicle weight by over two tons, freeing additional payload capacity for protection modules. The K9A2 carries 48 ready rounds in its turret, allowing a sustained firing rate between four and six rounds per minute. It supports the use of insensitive modular charges and is designed for operation by a crew of three or, in emergencies, two. Development of the K9A2 continues, with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces targeting operational introduction in 2027 and full capability across upgraded fleets by 2034.

Hanwha Aerospace’s next stage of development is the K9A3, an unmanned 155 mm self-propelled howitzer equipped with a 58-caliber barrel and a maximum range of 80 kilometers. The K9A3 integrates remote and autonomous operation capabilities, allowing full firing and mobility control without onboard personnel. It is designed to function as part of a networked artillery system supported by the K11A1 Fire Direction Control Vehicle, which can coordinate up to three howitzers. The K9A3 incorporates enhanced armor modules, a 12.7 mm remote weapon station, and compatibility with future sensor and AI-based targeting architectures. Hanwha’s long-term roadmap includes integrating unmanned and manned K9 systems under Manned-Unmanned Teaming concepts, enabling dispersed batteries to conduct shoot-and-scoot missions with minimal human exposure in high-threat environments.

The wheeled K9 variant enters a competitive global market dominated by systems such as the German KNDS RCH 155, French CAESAr Mk II, Israeli ATMOS 2000, and Rheinmetall’s HX3-based 155 mm system. The British Army’s decision in 2024 to procure the RCH 155 as part of its Mobile Fires Platform program led Hanwha to refocus on wheeled artillery solutions after its K9A2 was not selected. The new Hanwha platform is designed to achieve similar operational characteristics, including automation and long-range performance, at potentially lower sustainment costs. Unlike the RCH 155, which can fire while moving, the Korean design requires stabilising spades before firing, similar to the Rheinmetall HX3, slightly increasing setup time but maintaining mechanical simplicity.

Hanwha has indicated that the wheeled gun’s turret is modular and can also be fitted onto other chassis, such as the KTSSM or Tigon armored vehicle, depending on export customer preferences. The project is currently funded through internal company resources, but is expected to be proposed for inclusion in South Korea’s future export weapon system development initiatives. At the same time, Hanwha’s strategic approach to the U.S. market combines product adaptation and industrial localisation. The South Korean company has expressed readiness to establish a vertical supply chain in the United States, emphasising the use of American manufacturing capacity, job creation, and local production of key munitions components.

Hanwha Defence USA has confirmed that about 40 per cent of the K9’s existing supply chain already involves U.S. sources. The company is investing in domestic manufacturing of 155 mm modular charge systems, solid rocket motors, base bleed units, and propellants. It is also expanding through strategic acquisitions, including a $100 million investment in the Philadelphia Shipyard and an interest in Austal USA, aiming to secure a broader U.S. industrial footprint. Hanwha Aerospace’s total planned investment for its U.S. expansion is valued at roughly 1.3 trillion won, or nearly $1 billion, and supports its long-term goal of building resilience and interoperability within allied defense production networks.

The K9 Thunder family remains the foundation of Hanwha Aerospace’s artillery production, with approximately 2,000 units built or on order across ten countries as of early 2024. Operators include South Korea, Poland, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Australia, Egypt, and Romania. The K9A1 variant demonstrated full interoperability with Raytheon’s M982A1 Excalibur during trials at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, where it achieved sub-meter accuracy in point-detonating mode and a five-meter altitude burst in Height-of-Burst configuration. Romania became the tenth member of the K9 user community in July 2024 and the third global operator of the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle. The K9 platform maintains more than 50 per cent of the global self-propelled howitzer market share due to its standardised ammunition compatibility, modular turret systems, and multi-national logistics networks. With the K9A2 and the new wheeled variant now in production, Hanwha Aerospace’s artillery portfolio spans tracked, wheeled, and future autonomous systems designed for interoperability with U.S. and allied command-and-control environments.

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.