Key facts
- Hanwha Defense USA and the U.S. Army officially named the U.S. version of the K9 howitzer the XM1776 Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC).
- The XM1776 is based on a wheeled variant of the K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery system.
- The MTC program aims to develop a mobile 155-millimeter artillery system to replace the M777 towed howitzers.
- The U.S. Army ordered nine prototype XM1776 systems, with an option for nine more.
- Hanwha is establishing an integration and testing facility in Opelika, Alabama.
Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) and the U.S. Army have officially designated the American version of South Korea's K9 self-propelled howitzer as the XM1776 Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC). The announcement was made by HDUSA, a U.S. subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace Co., following a naming ceremony held on Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington.
In August, HDUSA was selected to provide prototypes for the MTC program, which seeks to develop a highly mobile 155-millimeter artillery system intended to replace the U.S. Army's current M777 towed howitzers. The company also revealed that the U.S. Army has ordered nine prototype XM1776 systems, with an option for an additional nine units.
The XM1776 is designed as a wheeled artillery system to support the U.S. Army's modernization goals, focusing on enhanced mobility and long-range precision fires. Mike Smith, HDUSA's chief operating officer, stated that the XM1776 signifies the launch of the Army's new long-range precision fires modernization effort and its partnership with HDUSA.
Hanwha plans to establish an integration and testing facility in Opelika, Alabama, for the XM1776 and its K9 howitzer family. The company also intends to engage with over 70 U.S. suppliers to localize its supply chain and bolster the American artillery industrial base. Hanwha noted that over 2,500 K9 howitzers are currently deployed globally and aims to leverage this experience to strengthen U.S. manufacturing capabilities.