Hanwha Defense USA, the U.S. subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace, is preparing to localize K9 artillery production in Alabama after being chosen as the sole prototype supplier for the U.S. Army's Mobile Tactical Cannon effort. The award covers six K9MH wheeled self-propelled howitzers with options for 12 more, though reported contract values differ: earlier reports put the base deal at about $100.3 million to $103.02 million and the maximum at $262.9 million, while a JP Morgan report published Wednesday valued the agreement at up to $233 million. The prototypes are set to move into operational experiments as the Army seeks a more mobile replacement for aging M777 towed howitzers and, in later phases, the tracked M109A7. A Hanwha Aerospace spokesperson said the Army abandoned its in-house Extended Range Cannon Artillery replacement effort after concluding domestic cost and delivery targets were unworkable. JP Morgan said a mass-production contract is planned for 2027 with initial fielding in 2030. Analysts and Korean media have estimated a follow-on order of roughly 498 to 500 units worth about 10 trillion won, or around $7.1 billion, a prospect that has led DAOL Investment & Securities to sharply raise its outlook for Hanwha Aerospace.