More details have reached armadainternational.com regarding the new Mandus/AM General Hawkeye 105mm self-propelled howitzer unveiled at the October Association of the United States Army exhibition held in Washington DC.
The Hawkeye is a 2200-pound (1000-kilogram) self-propelled howitzer that: “thanks to its reduced weight, well below the maximum capacity of a Boeing CH-47 Chinook or a Lockheed C-130J Hercules heavylift helicopter and turboprop freighter, can be airlifted and deployed in the field quickly,” says Jeff Adams, head of global communications and marketing for AM General: “Currently the Hawkeye has not gone through air drop testing yet, but it is scheduled to do so in the next couple of months”, continues Mr. Adams.
The new system uses the MG 9000 digital fire control system which incorporates Northrop Grumman’s LN-270 Inertial Navigation System, Weibel Scientific’s MVR-700C Muzzle Velocity Radar System, Sekai Electronics’ DFS-02 Direct Fire Camera System, Sensor Systems’ S67- 1575-76 Global Positioning System antenna and Mandus’ DK 10 Gunner’s Display Unit.
While neither Mandus nor AM General can comment on potential customers, Mr. Adams told armadainternational.com that the companies are monitoring a number of markets, including the UK, to target sales.
by Dr. Alix Valenti for armadainternational.com