Latvia to purchase another batch of M109A5 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Austria.

According to information released by a Latvian press agency on May 18, 2021, citing information from the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the country has signed an agreement with Austria to purchase another batch of 18 second-hand M109A5 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers.
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Latvian Army M109 A5Ö 155mm self-propelled howitzers (Picture source Wikipedia via Latvijas Televīzija)

In October 2019, Army Recognition has released news to announce the delivery of the first batch of 47 M109A5Oe 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers coming from the surplus of Austrian armed forces.

The M109 is an American-made 155mm self-propelled howitzer developed for the United States armed forces which entered into service with the U.SD. army in the early 1960s. Further development of the M109 resulted in the M109A1 and the M109A2 and, by early 1979, production had exceeded 4,000 units.

Austria purchased 38 M-109 and 18 M-109A2 self-propelled howitzers from the United States. In mid-1994, Austria purchased 27 M-109 series self-propelled artillery systems which were surplus to the requirements of the British Army.

The M109A50e has a number of unique features that differ from the standard M109A5 including an Austrian semi-automatic flick rammer, inertial positive navigation system, Swiss electrical system and the same 155 mm ordnance as used on the M109A6 Paladin currently in service with the US Army.

The M109A50e is armed with a 155 mm M284 cannon in an M182 mount. Using the US M203A1 charge, ranges of 30 km can be achieved firing a rocket-assisted projectile. The first production M109A50e for the Austrian Army was rolled out on 6 May 1997.