Hanwha Defense USA has been awarded a research and development contract by the US Army to integrate a 58-caliber cannon onto the K9 self-propelled howitzer as part of the service’s ongoing artillery modernization efforts.
The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) follows Hanwha’s proposal of a wheeled K9 variant with a 58-caliber barrel, a derivative of the 52-caliber K9A2. This platform is one of five options under consideration to fill the capability gap left by the canceled ERCA program.
Under the agreement, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center will incorporate a US-designed 58-caliber cannon, aiming to increase range from roughly 30 km to 70 km. Like ERCA, the focus is on using a longer barrel to extend projectile reach.
Other competitors in the program include BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, Elbit Systems, and General Dynamics. Hanwha’s K9A2, paired with the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle, promises faster sustained fire and improved battlefield performance, with full adaptability to US Army requirements and the creation of a domestic production supply chain.
