Ukraine Receives Experimental American Hawkeye System
Ukraine has recently received and is now testing the 105-mm 2-CT Hawkeye self-propelled artillery system in active combat situations. This is the first time the system is being tested outside of the US Army, according to Mike Evans, director of the AM General program.
Evans revealed that Ukraine acquired the Hawkeye system in April. By early May, it was already being deployed on the battlefield. Prior to its combat use, Ukrainian soldiers underwent two weeks of training followed by an additional week of testing. Remarkably, the Hawkeye is being evaluated in Ukraine under real combat conditions and against actual targets, providing critical insights into its operational effectiveness.
The full name of the system is the “2-CT Hawkeye Mobile Howitzer System.” Developed in 2019, this system is a collaborative effort between AM General and Mandus Group. In 2021, the U.S. Army issued a contract to produce two of these self-propelled guns for testing purposes.
Essentially, the 2-CT Hawkeye is a Humvee outfitted with an M20 cannon featuring SRT (soft recoil technology). This technology enables the vehicle to handle the stress of firing without sustaining damage after multiple uses.
Another notable feature is its advanced digital fire control system, which allows the vehicle to be ready to fire within just 90 seconds of stopping. It has a firing rate of 8 shots in the first three minutes. The maximum range for conventional projectiles is 11.6 km, while active-reactive projectiles can reach up to 19.5 km.
The primary tactical principle behind using self-propelled artillery systems like the Hawkeye is to quickly launch shells at the enemy and then swiftly relocate to avoid counter-fire. This approach is highly effective in the context of counter-battery warfare, where rapid movement is crucial to evade return fire.
Recently, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops are finishing training with AS90 self-propelled 155-mm howitzers. These howitzers are capable of striking Russian targets from a distance of 45 km, showcasing a significant enhancement in Ukraine’s artillery capabilities.