Hanwha Aerospace has put its K9MH mobile howitzer through live-fire trials, showcasing a new dual-feed autoloader that drives firing rates to 8 to 9 rounds per minute.
Footage from the tests offers a closer look at the loading system, which separates projectiles and propellant charges using dedicated conveyors to streamline the firing cycle.
Trials indicate a firing interval of around 7.5 seconds per round, reportedly placing the K9MH among the fastest-loading artillery systems in service today.
This tempo supports techniques such as Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact, where rounds fired on different trajectories arrive on target at nearly the same time.
The earlier K9A1 managed 6 to 8 rounds per minute, serving as a reference point for the system’s current iteration.
K9MH in Focus
Mounted on a Tatra T815-7 wheeled chassis, the K9MH uses an 8×8 configuration and operates with a reduced crew of three, helping lower manpower demands.
Its turret is fitted with a 155mm/52-caliber main gun, extending its strike range beyond 40 kilometers (25 miles) depending on the ammunition used.
The vehicle combines an independent suspension system with a central backbone tube to improve mobility across rugged terrain.
Carrying up to 40 rounds, the K9MH is designed to sustain high-tempo fire support operations without the need for immediate resupply.
Hanwha has positioned the system as its candidate testbed for the US Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) program.
“Born out of war, Hanwha takes a system-level view of the long-range precision fires mission,” said Mike Smith, president and chief operating officer of land systems at Hanwha Defense USA. “A total artillery solution goes well beyond platforms.”
