The Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Weapon System (MWS) is the lightest weight developed by AM General, most highly maneuverable self-propelled howitzer in the world today. A U.S. Army standard M20 105mm cannon mounted on an M1152A1w/B2 HMMWV creating a small logistic footprint. 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 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. By utilizing emerging technologies, it will set the standard for light artillery in the areas of firepower, tactical mobility, strategic deployability and command and control. The Hawkeye has incorporated a groundbreaking modular design. Due to its lightweight and low recoil forces it can be mounted to many types of military vehicles including wheeled, tracked, rail, watercraft, aircraft and towed systems. This means that a performance based 105mm artillery system can be deployed to the land, sea, and air in ways that were never before possible.
Additionally, the Hawkeye has been designed to accommodate a full spectrum of barrel lengths if range is a primary requirement. The Hawkeye’s modular, compact, and lightweight characteristics are attributed to the incorporation of soft recoil technology in its design. Soft recoil technology provides reduced carriage loads allowing carriage structures to be up to 50% lighter than conventional recoil systems. It provides an ergonomic advantage by keeping the breech rear of the carriage structure in all elevations and traversing conditions allowing for easy loading and firing of standard NATO 105mm Cartridges. The Hawkeye will be a superior alternative to existing weapon systems such as the 106mm Recoilless Rifle, 120mm Mortar, and other 105mm artillery systems due to its low cost precision strike capability.
