Watch the Army test its new 105mm 'Hawkeye' Humvee-mounted howitzer

• The US Army is testing a new 105mm 'Hawkeye" Humvee-mounted howitzer designed to lighten a tried-and-true artillery solution enough to allow such a large cannon on a small platform.
•  It can fire up to three rounds per minute via remote, has a range of 11 miles and can support troops with direct fire, unlike 120mm mortars, which provide indirect fire support. 
• One downside, however, is that the Hawkeyer’s rate of fire is much lower than the towed and manually loaded howitzer variants, which can put out up to six rounds a minute.

The Hawkeye 105 mm Howitzer mobile artillery system developed by Mandus Group looks like something straight out of Command & Conquer. If you don’t believe me, check out this sweet slow-motion video of some lucky 82nd Airborne soldiers testing out the new hotness that popped up on Twitter on August 5.

Utilizing an inventive hydraulic system to reduce recoil, the Hawkeye was designed to lighten a tried-and-true artillery solution enough to allow such a large cannon on a small platform. It can fire up to three rounds per minute via remote, and the mobility of the Humvee allows a small crew of between two and four to rapidly deploy the suspension system, fire, and get out of dodge within 60 seconds — or before counter-battery fire can hit back.

The lightweight nature of the Hawkeye makes it ideal for expeditionary fire support. Unlike mortars like the 120 mm mobile variant the U.S. Army is currently eyeing for soldiers, the Hawkeye can support troops with direct fire, whereas mortars are only able to provide indirect fire.

The Hawkeye system has other advantages. The deployed suspension system eases wear and tear on the Humvee compared to a 120mm system that shoots from a free chassis. Over time, even the best suspension systems will feel 100,000 lbs of force right to the baseplate; you can see that force punishing the vehicle in the 82nd Airborne footage.

The 105 mm also has a range advantage on 120 mm mortar systems, reaching out to strike enemies at up to 11 miles compared to the latter’s limited accuracy of up to five miles. Interestingly, this is a boon for maintenance and readiness: the Army’s Humvee system and supply line is already well-entrenched in the current force structure, allowing for an easier integration into then a whole new vehicle system. 

But the biggest advantage is the Hawkeye’s ability to cover distance quickly over rough terrain make the classic shoot and scoot a breeze, a key advantage over traditional towed 105 mm systems. An experienced counter-battery team can locate and shoot effectively a bit over a minute after a round lands, but the Hawkeye system looks to be able to pivot from position to position, out-maneuvering counter-battery attempts to eliminate the threat.

One downside, however, is that the Hawkeyer’s rate of fire is much lower than the towed and manually loaded howitzer variants, which can put out up to six rounds a minute. But since the U.S.’s main near-peer threats, namely Russia and China, field artillery that is much longer in range the 105 mm howitzer, this may be less of a problem on a conventional battlefield. In the meantime, the Hawkeye seems like a fine lightweight option for soldiers, if only for the Avengers jokes:

SEE ALSO: This is the huge M777 howitzer that US Marines burned out while fighting ISIS in Syria

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