On October 20, 2025, the US Army defined stringent requirements for its self-propelled howitzer competition as part of its artillery modernization efforts. Key specifications include mandatory domestic production, armor protection equivalent to the M109A7, high rates of fire, extended operational ranges, and enhanced mobility. This initiative, which follows the cessation of internal development for the Extended Range Artillery Cannon (ERCA), signals a shift towards integrating both foreign and domestic systems into US military operations. The emphasis on domestic manufacturing underlines the importance of strategic autonomy amid increasing global supply chain uncertainties, a development that Indian defense stakeholders should monitor closely due to its implications for defense-industrial policies and international competition in artillery systems.