Hanwha Aerospace K9A2 self-propelled howitzer with composite rubber tracks. (Hanwha Aerospace)
Artillery fires have sounded around the world as part of the US Army's ‘roadshow' to find a modular tactical cannon solution throughout November. Performance demonstrations are set to be completed by the end of December, Brigadier General Rory Crooks, director of Long Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team (CFT), told reporters on 3 December.
Out of five vendors, Hanwha and BAE Systems have both completed live-fire demonstrations of their mobile artillery solutions – Hanwha's K9 self-propelled howitzer in South Korea and BAE's Archer in Sweden. The remaining three are in various stages of completion, multiple defence industry sources told Janes .
In November a demonstration of the Archer artillery system included a basic scenario of shoot, move, and resupply, BAE System's director of business development Jim Miller told Janes on 3 December. BAE has begun discussions on how to “Americanise” Archer, which could include changes to the system such as replacing the Swedish fire controls with US ones. Analysis is ongoing for how it might add a production line to an existing facility such as the one in Eglin, Oklahoma.
The range in Sweden was not large enough to allow BAE to shoot at its maximum range, though it was demonstrated on the 52 calibre gun for the army in 2023, Miller noted.
Elbit Systems of America, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Rheinmetall are yet to complete a demonstration, multiple defence sources confirmed to Janes . General Dynamics was scheduled to complete a live fire of its Piranha wheeled vehicle with a Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 platform in the next two weeks.
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