AM General Hawkeye 105mm mobile light artillery system at SOFEX 2018.

American Company AM General introduces new light artillery system based on HUMVEE tactical vehicle for the Middle East market at SOFEX 2018, the International Special Operations Forces Exhibition & Conference, SOFEX in Amman, Jordan. The 105mm Mobile Weapon System (105MWS), also dubbed HAWKEYE by AM General, consists of one 105mm cannon mounted at the rear on HUMVEE light tactical vehicle chassis.

AM General Hawkeye 105mm light artillery system based on HUMVEE vehicle displayed at SOFEX 2018, the International Special Operations Forces Exhibition & Conference, SOFEX in Amman, Jordan. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The 105mm Mobile Weapon System (MWS), called HAWKEYE by AM General, is the lightest weight, most highly maneuverable self-propelled howitzer in the world today. The system consists of a U.S. Army standard M20 105mm cannon mounted on an M1152A1w/B2 HMMWV. The weapon includes the application of a digital fire control system and on board communication, eliminating the need for surveyed firing points, aiming circles, and wire lines.

The new AM General Hawkeye is based on a M1152A1 Humvee with a crew cab at the front and cargo platform at the rear fitted the 105 mm howitzer. The 105 mm cannon uses a hybrid soft recoil technology allows weapon to be paired with AM General HMMWV.

The 105MWS battery is organized to suppress, neutralize, and destroy both ground forces and structures in an indirect and direct fire mode. The system allows the weapon to move, shoot, and move again without relying on heavy equipment or large number of troops/logistic support. The HMMWV platform provides unparalleled off-road mobility over all types of terrain to support this mission.

The AM General Hawkeye 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.

In firing position two hydraulic jacks are lowered on the ground at the front of the vehicle and two large spades at the rear. A total of 4 to 6 ammunitions can be carried on the vehicle. To increase the number of ammunition another Humvee in cargo variant can be used to carry additional ammunition.

The HMMWV/Hawkeye Howitzer 105mm howitzer can be ready to fire in less than 2 minutes with a total crew of 4 soldiers.