Combat-ready and compact: The 2‑CT Hawkeye howitzer in Ukraine

Many arms companies worldwide note that the war in Ukraine serves as an ideal testing ground for new weaponry. One intriguing piece of equipment is the American ultralight 2-CT Hawkeye howitzer from AM General, which has entered combat testing. Here's an explanation of what this weapon entails.

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

This artillery system, mounted on a Humvee bed, is notable for having the weakest recoil in the world. It is a 105 mm calibre howitzer with significantly greater capabilities than 120 mm calibre mortars.

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

This represents a significant improvement compared to towed howitzers, as the war in Ukraine has shown that towed howitzers are highly 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 this threat is simply disappearing from the area. Mounting the howitzer on a Humvee chassis facilitates quicker occupancy and departure from firing positions, which takes significantly less time than towed solutions like the M777.

In terms of firepower and range, the 105 mm calibre howitzer offers substantial advantages over the 120 mm calibre mortar. The most notable benefit is the ability to shoot up to 11 kilometres using simple shells or nearly 15 kilometres with rocket-assisted shells. Meanwhile, the 120 mm calibre mortar has a maximum range of approximately 8 kilometres for regular shells or slightly over 10 kilometres with rocket-assisted ones.

This means that the 105 mm calibre 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.