American ultralight 2‑CT Hawkeye Howitzer tested in the Ukraine war

Many arms companies worldwide note that the war in Ukraine serves as an ideal testing ground for new weaponry. One of the exciting pieces of equipment being tested is the American ultralight 2-CT Hawkeye howitzer from AM General. We explain this weapon.

In a speech at the Fires Symposium, Mike Evans, program director at AM General, confirmed that in April, the ultralight 2-CT Hawkeye howitzer was sent to Ukraine, where it is currently being tested under war conditions.

This artillery system is characterized by having the weakest recoil in the world and is mounted on a HMMWV bed. It is a 105 mm caliber howitzer with significantly greater capabilities than 120 mm mortars.

The 2-CT Hawkeye howitzer from AM General is a creative application of the well-known US Army 105 mm caliber M20 howitzer on a unique base equipped with solutions that reduce recoil by up to 70 percent. This setup allows firing from the HMMWV vehicle after deploying hydraulic supports, creating a self-propelled system conceptually similar to the Caesar system.

This is a significant improvement over towed howitzers, which the war in Ukraine has shown to be very vulnerable to destruction. When the enemy has artillery radars and drones, staying in a firing position even a few minutes too long can be deadly for the crew.

Russians can use cluster munitions to attack detected firing positions, and the best form of protection against them is simply disappearing from the area. Mounting the howitzer on an HMMWV chassis allows rapid occupation and departure from a firing position, taking much less time than with towed solutions such as the M777.

Regarding firepower and range, the 105 mm caliber howitzer offers substantial benefits over the 120 mm caliber mortar. The most significant advantage is the ability to shoot up to 7 miles using the simplest shells or 9 miles with rocket-assisted shells. The maximum range for the 120 mm caliber mortar is about 5 miles for regular shells or slightly over 6 miles for rocket-assisted ones.

This means that the 105 mm caliber howitzer can support infantry from beyond the enemy mortar range and, with the proper ammunition, offers a comparable range to Russian 122 mm systems. The rate of fire of this ultralight howitzer is a maximum of 8 rounds per minute, and just two soldiers can operate it.