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The US Army looks to replace the M109 SP Howitzer, the Korean K9 may be their answer
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:06 am
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:06 am
Anyone who’s ever served in the army in the past half century is familiar with the legendary M109 self-propelled howitzer….
From the 60s…
70s…
To today….
But the M109s days appear to be numbered. The Army has concluded it no longer can cut it on the modern battlefield. Too slow, vulnerable to drones, etc. so they’re looking for a replacement. Enter the Hanwha K9 self-propelled howitzer…
The K9 already is a major player in the arty world. As of 2022, the K9 series has had a 52% share of the global self-propelled howitzer market, including wheeled vehicles, since the year 2000.
The US army has been evaluating the K9 as its next divisional artillery system.
LINK
And now this morning I see this story….
LINK
I know the contract hasn’t been awarded yet, but considering the K9 is already a proven system, the lack of other viable models, and the fact Hanwha is ramping up for production of the K9 in the Auburn/Opelika area of Alabama where they already have a large facility, it appears the K9 is most likely going to be the self-propelled artillery system of the future for the US Army.
From the 60s…
70s…
To today….
But the M109s days appear to be numbered. The Army has concluded it no longer can cut it on the modern battlefield. Too slow, vulnerable to drones, etc. so they’re looking for a replacement. Enter the Hanwha K9 self-propelled howitzer…
The K9 already is a major player in the arty world. As of 2022, the K9 series has had a 52% share of the global self-propelled howitzer market, including wheeled vehicles, since the year 2000.
The US army has been evaluating the K9 as its next divisional artillery system.
quote:
Hanwha Defense USA has entered the U.S. Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon competition with a K9-based 155mm tracked howitzer designed for rapid deployment.
From Arlington, Virginia, Hanwha confirmed it will offer a U.S.-localized K9 Mobile Howitzer (K9MH) aligned with Army requirements for mature, producible systems. The proposal emphasizes long-range fires, automated reload capability, and domestic manufacturing, including planned production in Alabama. The Army is expected to evaluate prototypes by 2026, conduct soldier testing in 2027, and select a final system later that year.
LINK
And now this morning I see this story….
quote:
Hanwha Defense USA announced today that it is establishing a site in Opelika, Alabama, that will serve as the U.S. integration and test facility for Hanwha’s family of K9 Mobile Howitzers.
Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) signed a three-year lease as part of the company’s strategic commitment to invest more than $2 million in the U.S. artillery system supply chain, enhance America’s combat vehicle industrial base and serve as a long-term artillery modernization partner to the U.S. Army.
This investment demonstrates HDUSA’s commitment to localizing production as part of its submission of Hanwha’s K9 Mobile Howitzer (K9MH) in response to the U.S. Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP). HDUSA will provide the U.S. Army with a mature, available, low-risk, and rapidly fieldable 155 mm artillery system that supports the Army’s modernization and long-range precision fires objectives.
LINK
I know the contract hasn’t been awarded yet, but considering the K9 is already a proven system, the lack of other viable models, and the fact Hanwha is ramping up for production of the K9 in the Auburn/Opelika area of Alabama where they already have a large facility, it appears the K9 is most likely going to be the self-propelled artillery system of the future for the US Army.
13
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:15 am to Darth_Vader
Sounds good!
It seems like it will be more mobile, but have less armor. I don't understaind how this will be less vulnerable to drones. I'm sure it doesn't run as fast as a drone can fly.
But the old self propelled artillery platform is indeed OLD.
It seems like it will be more mobile, but have less armor. I don't understaind how this will be less vulnerable to drones. I'm sure it doesn't run as fast as a drone can fly.
But the old self propelled artillery platform is indeed OLD.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:22 am to Champagne
quote:
It seems like it will be more mobile, but have less armor. I don't understaind how this will be less vulnerable to drones. I'm sure it doesn't run as fast as a drone can fly.
Spitballing here, but armor plate is about irrelevant in today's world. The unit is vulnerable when set up to fire, regardless of armor. Less dead weight in steel means more room to pack in active drone countermeasures, something akin to the Israeli Trophy system, but for drones. Probably will carry a Trophy as well for ATGMs.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:24 am to Darth_Vader
quote:In your considered opinion does the K9 have sufficient K-Pop?
the Korean K9 may be their answer
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:29 am to TheRealTigerHorn
quote:
Spitballing here, but armor plate is about irrelevant in today's world.
That's not "spitballing" at all because the entire history of Military Science from the Navies of the 19th century to now has included the debate between speed vs armor protection.
First, the debate focused on Naval combat vessels, then when the armored fighting vehicle was invented, the debate then included those weapons.
This new self propelled field artillery unit might just be a sacrifice of some armor protection in exchange for more speed and mobility.
Or perhaps there might be some doctrinal change or shift away from the battlefield missions that self propelled arty does towards what drones or other weapons can do just as well or better. Maybe the whole "Self Propelled Artillery armored fighting vehicle" concept is being de emphasized over concerns that it will one day in the foreseeable future be Obsolete.
This post was edited on 5/2/26 at 9:30 am
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:31 am to TheRealTigerHorn
quote:
Spitballing here, but armor plate is about irrelevant in today's world. The unit is vulnerable when set up to fire, regardless of armor. Less dead weight in steel means more room to pack in active drone countermeasures, something akin to the Israeli Trophy system, but for drones. Probably will carry a Trophy as well for ATGMs.
I’m too old to fully understand how this new drone warfare game works, but I’m thinking you’re right that this new platform offers better anti-drone countermeasures than the old M109.
Anothe factor that the Army cites in looking to replace the M109 is speed. I remember the M109s in my day could not match the speed of my Abrams or even our Bradleys. Also, the M109 takes a while to get set up and be ready to conduct fire missions. Apparently the K9 is faster in both regards. Also, it has an autoloader that will increase the rate of fire. And I imagine the autoloader eliminates the need for at least one, maybe two, crew members.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 9:41 am to Champagne
quote:
This new self propelled field artillery unit might just be a sacrifice of some armor protection in exchange for more speed and mobility.
Or perhaps there might be some doctrinal change or shift away from the battlefield missions that self propelled arty does towards what drones or other weapons can do just as well or better. Maybe the whole "Self Propelled Artillery armored fighting vehicle" concept is being de emphasized over concerns that it will one day in the foreseeable future be Obsolete.
The way artillery is utilized is indeed evolving. In decades past, an artillery battery was expected to set up and be ready for fire missions within 15-30 minutes. It was labor intensive and took time. And they could expect to occupy a position for anything ranging from several hours to several days. Now, they’re looking to be able to be set up in like 5 minutes (or less), fire a handful of rounds and then scoot out to the next position and do it all over again.
This is what they’re referring to when it comes to mobility and speed. It about how fast can they (1) get to a position, (2) get set up to fire, (3) send rounds down range, and (4) move to the next position and do it all over again.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:00 am to Darth_Vader
Now we need to authorize their shipyards to build the Navy boats. The K9 may prove to be an embarrassment to the US domestic defense industry in terms of how fast they can start production after contract award.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:03 am to LemmyLives
quote:
Now we need to authorize their shipyards to build the Navy boats. The K9 may prove to be an embarrassment to the US domestic defense industry in terms of how fast they can start production after contract award.
Yep. Hanwha already has a substantial manufacturing facility in the Auburn/Opelika area that produces parts for the Kia and Hyundai plants here in Alabama. This expansion of that facility is them gearing up to be ready to hit the ground running and have units on the production line before the ink on the contract has even dried.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:13 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
Hanwha Defense USA
Awesome company. They’re one of my best clients.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:15 am to Darth_Vader
Two million whole dollars in a U.S. military contract! That’s YUGE I tell ya! YUGE!
I’ve seen hammers cost more than this.
I’ve seen hammers cost more than this.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:20 am to Champagne
Can someone explain how the K9 platform is more adapted to the “modern battlefield”?
Is it fire control?
Drone defense?
Is there robotic fire control and reloading?
I mean drone defense has changed monthly in Ukraine as the threat adapts (wireless -> wire guided -> so on), it seems like any platform would require major support elements and adaptability beyond what the initial specs were to remain “current”.
Is it fire control?
Drone defense?
Is there robotic fire control and reloading?
I mean drone defense has changed monthly in Ukraine as the threat adapts (wireless -> wire guided -> so on), it seems like any platform would require major support elements and adaptability beyond what the initial specs were to remain “current”.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:21 am to Darth_Vader
Seems like whatever money that is being poured into this, would be better served toward drone engineering and production…
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:29 am to Darth_Vader
Alabama about to get more jobs
Posted on 5/2/26 at 10:36 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
is what they’re referring to when it comes to mobility and speed. It about how fast can they (1) get to a position, (2) get set up to fire, (3) send rounds down range, and (4) move to the next position and do it all over again.
That makes sense.
It might be on a modern drone and targeting battlefield nothing is survivable that doesn’t have overhead protection so mobility is survivability and the existing platform simply can’t setup fast enough to fire before it would be under attack and therefore is no longer usable.
To me that’s not an artillery issue however that’s a drone defense problem.
Because ultimately anything is at risk if you don’t pair drone defense with the artillery unit whether it’s still in place or on the move after firing.
Not at all an expert just trying to think logically as to how artillery would have to work on a modern battlefield.
Might end up with robotic units with robotic loading and robotic drone (think AA) units that take humans out of the equation completely once they leave the rear staging areas.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 11:05 am to tide06
There's only so much you can do to modernize the M109...It was supposed to be replaced over 20 years ago.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 11:22 am to Darth_Vader
As far as I know, Field Arty doctrine's core "motto" is "Shoot, Move, Communicate", so the core idea is the same. What is evolving, apparently, is the idea that the "Shoot" part must take less and less time - maybe one salvo and then it's time to "Move" because you are detected by the enemy as soon as you Shoot.
Maybe that's what's going on. The M109 vehicle armor is aluminum alloy, which means it was never designed to withstand a solid hit from any shaped charged or armor piercing round. Switching over to the "Move" and move very quickly Plan seems logical, since the M109 never was designed to defeat heavy anti-armor hits.
Maybe that's what's going on. The M109 vehicle armor is aluminum alloy, which means it was never designed to withstand a solid hit from any shaped charged or armor piercing round. Switching over to the "Move" and move very quickly Plan seems logical, since the M109 never was designed to defeat heavy anti-armor hits.
Posted on 5/2/26 at 11:25 am to vl100butch
quote:
There's only so much you can do to modernize the M109...It was supposed to be replaced over 20 years ago.
B-52 chuckles quietly in the corner
Posted on 5/2/26 at 11:42 am to Darth_Vader
Crusader is the Artillery piece of the future!
One tube; 10 rounds; simultaneous impact!
Looks like the K9 is what the Crusader was supposed to become:
One tube; 10 rounds; simultaneous impact!
Looks like the K9 is what the Crusader was supposed to become:
quote:
The K9 Thunder is a 155mm/52-caliber South Korean self-propelled howitzer renowned for high firepower, rapid fire rates, and "shoot-and-scoot" capabilities.
It achieves a 40km+ range (up to 70km with specialized rounds), fires three rounds in 15 seconds, and features Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) to engage targets with high, sustained precision.
Key Capabilities and Fearures
Fire Power & Range: Equipped with a 155mm/52 caliber gun, it can hit targets over 40 km away with standard high-explosive (HE) rounds and over 50 km (potentially 70 km) with rocket-assisted projectiles.
Rapid Fire & Loading: The K9 features an automatic loading system. It can achieve a burst rate of three rounds in under 15 seconds, a maximum rate of 6 to 8 rounds per minute, and a sustained rate of 2 to 3 rounds per minute.
MRSI Capability: The system can fire multiple rounds in different trajectories so they land on the target simultaneously, increasing destruction.
Shoot-and-Scoot: Designed for high survivability, the K9 can come to a stop and open fire within 30 to 60 seconds, and move immediately after firing to avoid counter-battery fire.
Modernization (K9A1/A2): Upgrades include automatic fire control systems, electronic maps, and improved driving cameras. The K9A2 is expected to feature a fully automatic loading system that increases the firing rate to over nine rounds per minute.
System Integration: It is often paired with the K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV), which uses a bridge system to transfer shells automatically (12 rounds per minute) without exposing personnel.
Technical SpecificationsCrew: 5 persons
Weight: 47 tonnesSpeed: Maximum of 67 km/hOperating Range: 480 km
Protection: Welded steel armor protects against shell splinters, machine gun fire, and anti-personnel
This post was edited on 5/2/26 at 2:45 pm
Posted on 5/2/26 at 11:43 am to Champagne
quote:
Maybe that's what's going on. The M109 vehicle armor is aluminum alloy, which means it was never designed to withstand a solid hit from any shaped charged or armor piercing round. Switching over to the "Move" and move very quickly Plan seems logical, since the M109 never was designed to defeat heavy anti-armor hits.
You’re exactly right. Self-propelled artillery may look like a “tank” to the general public, but they’re vastly different. Their armor is only mean to protect against small arms and shrapnel. And this is primarily because of the fact that while tanks, which are designed to operate at the “tip of the spear” on the front lines in direct contact with enemy forces, artillery typically operates several miles behind friendly lines to give indirect fire support to the front line forces.
If your artillery is being engaged by enemy tanks or other anti-armor assets, something has gone terribly wrong and you’ve got huge problems.
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