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The Hanwha Aerospace K9 wheeled self-propelled howitzer has been assigned the U.S. Army designation 'XM1776,' derived from 1776, the year of American independence.
On the 13th, Hanwha Aerospace announced that it unveiled the designation XM1776 at the 'AUSA 2026' annual exhibition of the U.S. Army Association held in Washington, D.C., with the attendance of Major General Frank Rosano, who oversees firepower acquisition for the U.S. Army.
Following the signing of a prototype supply contract for the K9MH under the U.S. Army Maneuver Tactical Cannon (MTC) program in August this year, Hanwha Aerospace delivered the first prototype unit this month. The U.S. Army assigns designations beginning with 'X' to equipment in the development and testing phase, changing them to designations without the 'X' after official adoption. 1776 is the year of American independence, and the designation carries the meaning that the K9 should be an equipment that defends American freedom.
Hanwha Aerospace set up an exhibition hall of approximately 300 square meters at this exhibition and displayed a physical model of the K9 wheeled self-propelled howitzer. The K9MH prototype, manufactured in Changwon, was transported from Korea by air on the 24th of last month, the first day of the Chuseok holiday. Along with the K9 tracked self-propelled howitzer, the exhibition hall also featured the K10 ammunition carrier, which uses the same chassis as the K9.
A Hanwha Aerospace official told this outlet in a phone interview, "While the U.S. Army is rapidly advancing force modernization across all areas of artillery, firepower, and maritime operations, we have gathered Hanwha's ground defense capabilities in one place."
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