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The US Army has awarded Hanwha Defense USA a research and development contract to integrate a 58-caliber cannon into the K9 self-propelled howitzer platform. This Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) follows Hanwha's proposal of a wheeled variant of the K9 equipped with the 58-caliber cannon.

The initiative aims to enhance artillery capabilities, increasing the effective range of the army's self-propelled howitzers from approximately 30 kilometers to up to 70 kilometers. The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center will oversee the integration of the cannon into the K9 vehicles.

Other companies, including BAE Systems and Rheinmetall, are also involved in demonstrating candidate systems. Hanwha previously proposed the K9A2 variant paired with the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle to improve sustained fire rates.