Copyright asianmilitaryreview
South Korean firm Hyundai WIA is preparing for production of its new lightweight 105mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH), which had earlier publicly debuted at the KADEX exhibition in October 2024. The new light truck-mounted artillery system was developed under a project by South Korea’s Defense Rapid Acquisition Technology Research Institute. Its development was completed earlier this year, with trials also having now been conducted. Speaking to Asian Military Review at the exhibition, Ji-Hong Lee, Senior Manager, Defence Business Team of Hyundai WIA, said development of the new weapon system was completed in only two years, and that mass production is slated to commence by 2026-27. He stated his company had received interest in the high-mobility, lightweight SPH from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Latvia, adding that the weapon system could also be adapted to any similar type of tactical vehicle. The lightweight 105mm howitzer mounted on a Kia 4×4 tactical vehicle chassis serves as a mobile fire support weapon for light infantry brigades or units conducting expeditionary operations. It can be transported by CH-47 Chinook helicopter, or transport aircraft, for rapid deployment. The platform features a new fire control system, with fire mission data linking and automated firing/servicing, which allows for “shoot and scoot” mission execution and movement before enemy counter-fire arrives. An integrated navigation system improves firing accuracy. A modernisation and upgrade effort has reduced the weight of the KH178 105mm howitzer mounted on the vehicle, so that it weighs less than half that of the towed version. Previously, the KH178 was towed by a 2.5-tonne truck. Compared to the towed version, the crew size has reduced from six to four. This whole system consists of a vehicle-mounted howitzer, ammunition carrier vehicle and fire command vehicle. The howitzer vehicle is based on a Kia K351 4×4 tactical vehicle that can accommodate two persons and weighs 7 tonnes. The upgraded KH178 105mm gun attains a maximum rate of fire of ten rounds per minute, or a sustained rate of three rounds per minute. The accuracy quoted is a circular error probable of 10m, while its maximum range with a standard projectile is 14.7km, or 18km with a rocket-assisted projectile. The fire control/command vehicle is based on a Kia K152 4×4 tactical vehicle that has a combat weight of 5.7 tonnes and can accommodate a crew of four. It is equipped with a battalion-and-below command-and-control system, tactical multi-band multirole radio and an artillery fire control/coordination system. Meanwhile, the ammunition resupply vehicle is based on a Kia K351 that can carry 40 rounds of ammunition.
