On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Hanwha Defense USA (part of the South Korean Hanwha Group) publicly unveiled for the first time a prototype and specifications of the K9 MH (Mobile Howitzer), a mobile howitzer concept originally revealed in July 2024. Although the K9 family currently dominates more than 50% of the global tracked howitzer market, the manufacturer decided to develop a wheeled variant to meet the requirements of countries emphasizing rapid force deployment and tactical mobility.
K9 MH / Photo: Hanwha Defense USA
According to information provided by Hanwha Defense USA, the K9 MH is equipped with a 155 mm/52-caliber gun-howitzer compliant with JBMoU (Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding) requirements, identical to the CN98 model used in the tracked K9 Thunder howitzer. The system features a rate of fire of 8–9 rounds per minute. Its range with standard ammunition is 40 km, while when using rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP), it exceeds 60 km.
A key element of the K9 MH is the integration of a fully automated turret, based on technology from the K9A2 variant, with a wheeled chassis. This solution ensures the firepower and level of automation known from tracked versions. The ammunition storage holds 40 rounds, and the system is designed for rapid, automated resupply using a K10 ammunition resupply vehicle and support system (MSPO 2025: Hanwha Aerospace showcases new howitzers).
The current test platform is based on a Tatra 8×8 chassis (from Czechoslovak Group), though the manufacturer emphasizes the modularity of the design—the carrier can be adapted to specific customer requirements, as illustrated by the proposed configuration for the U.S. Army. The K9 MH is equipped with an armored cab to protect the crew, and a key advantage of the system is its ability to assume a firing position in under 30 seconds, enabling effective use of the shoot-and-scoot tactic—leaving the firing position immediately after the last shot to avoid counter-battery fire.
The K9 MH concept was unveiled at the AUSA 2025 exhibition in Washington, although the first information about the development of the wheeled howitzer, as mentioned, appeared in July 2024. Hanwha is offering the K9 MH in the U.S. Army’s SPH-M (Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization) program, launched in October 2024.
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