AM General Sells Hawkeye Howitzers to Kosovo

AM General has finalized a three-year direct commercial sale framework contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo for Hawkeye 105mm Mobile Howitzer Systems, marking the first sale of the system to Kosovo and expanding the company’s footprint in mobile artillery solutions.

According to the company, the agreement covers Hawkeye Mobile Howitzer Systems on HUMVEE chassis, along with additional support vehicles from the HUMVEE family, spare parts, and training and maintenance services. The systems are intended for the Kosovo Security Force and are designed to provide a mobile indirect fire capability built around a light tactical vehicle platform.

“We are proud to announce the successful sale of the HUMVEE Hawkeye to the Ministry of Defense of Kosovo for the Kosovo Security Force’s requirements, a testament to our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for modern military needs,” said John Chadbourne, AM General’s executive vice president of business development. “This system embodies durability, versatility, and advanced technology, ensuring that Kosovo’s armed forces are equipped with the best tools to protect and serve. We look forward to continuing our partnership with defense entities worldwide, delivering vehicles that enhance operational effectiveness and safety.”

The Hawkeye integrates a 105mm cannon onto the standard HUMVEE platform through the use of Soft Recoil Technology. This approach reduces firing forces and allows the artillery system to be mounted on a lightweight vehicle without compromising mobility or structural integrity.

As noted by the company, the system is designed to emplace, fire, and displace in under 90 seconds. This rapid fire-and-move capability is intended to improve survivability against counterbattery fire compared with traditional towed artillery systems, which require more time to deploy and redeploy.

In addition to the Hawkeye systems, the Kosovo Security Force will receive ambulances, command-and-control trucks, and other support vehicles. AM General said this broader vehicle package is designed to enable the formation of a complete artillery battery and establish an organic indirect fire capability for Kosovo’s forces.

Deliveries under the contract are expected to begin within the next two years. The company did not disclose the total number of howitzers or vehicles included in the initial phase of the agreement.

The Hawkeye system has drawn attention in recent years due to its operational relevance in modern conflicts. Earlier versions of the 105mm Hawkeye Mobile Howitzer System were delivered to Ukraine, and the system was reportedly used by Ukrainian forces in live combat operations.

Reports from the battlefield indicated that the system’s lightweight design and rapid fire-move-fire cycle were well suited to high-threat environments where drones, counterbattery radars, and precision strikes place traditional artillery at increased risk. Mobility and speed have become central to artillery survivability in such conditions.

The HUMVEE platform itself remains widely used by military forces around the world, and AM General has continued to adapt it for new mission sets beyond troop transport. By pairing the vehicle with a mobile artillery system, the company is positioning the Hawkeye as an option for forces seeking indirect fire capabilities without the logistical burden of heavier self-propelled guns.