BAE Systems production contrat for M109A7 155mm howitzers for US army.

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has released a contract on September 28, 2018, regarding the production for the M109A7 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer and the M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicles by the Company BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., York, Pennsylvania.

M109A7 155mm self-propelled howiter (Picture source BAE System Twitter)

On September 28, 2018, the US Army has ordered production of M109A7 155mm tracked armored self-propelled howitzer artillery as well as M992A3 tracked armored ammunition carrier under a contract worth over $215 million.

The M109A7 is the latest generation of American-made artillery system in the M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer, it's a significant upgrade to the combat-proven M109A6 Paladin including upgrades of the hull, turret, engine, and suspension systems. The M109A7 has a crew of four including driver, commander, loader and gunner.

The M109A7 has a large turret mounted at the rear of a new chassis using modem components common to the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The turret is armed with one 155mm M284 cannon with an M182A1 gun mount and an automated loader, and has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds. For its self-protection the hatch of the commander is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

M992A3 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply (Picture source BAE Systems Twitter)

The M992A3 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV) is built on the same chassis that the M109A7.Also known as the CAT (Carrier Ammunition Tracked) this vehicle serves as a heavily armored munitions carrier. More specifically, munitions designed for the M109A7 tracked self-propelled howitzer.

The M992A3 Fis basically the chassis of a standard M109A7 tracked self-propelled howitzer with the turret replaced by a fully enclosed superstructure. Inside this superstructure which is used to store ammunition and charges for the M109A7. Its superstructure can carry 95 artillery rounds, powders, and primers.