Six prototype K9 Mobile Howitzers, part of a U.S. Army contract worth up to $262 million, will be assembled in Opelika.
Hanwha announced in April that its facility in Opelika would be its U.S. test facility for its family of howitzers.
Hanwha Defense USA has won the contract, which calls for six prototypes, with an option for an additional 12, according to Made in Alabama, the Alabama Department of Commerce’s website.
“We’re honored that the U.S. Army has selected Hanwha’s K9 Mobile Howitzer to fulfill its Mobile Tactical Cannon requirement. The K9MH is the total artillery solution and will be the centerpiece of Army Fires’ transformation into a more modern, more lethal force,” said Mike Smith, Hanwha Defense USA COO and president of land systems. “The U.S. Army’s selection is a testament to our track record of delivering devastating capability at speed, at scale, on cost and on shore. As the wheeled variant of the K9, the K9MH provides an expansion path toward a tracked capability with designed-in margin for the future fight. And with such a capability, that fight will not be a fair one.”
Hanwha Defense USA is a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace.
“We are proud that these prototype systems will be assembled in Opelika, creating good jobs and strengthening Alabama’s role in supporting America’s national security,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said. “Hanwha has already demonstrated its confidence in Alabama, and this contract is another important step in building a long-term partnership that will bring additional investment, innovation and opportunity to our state.”
