BAE Systems Systems to produce more M109A7 155mm self-propelled howitzers for US Army.

According to information published by the United States Department of Defense on January 7, 2022, BAE Systems was awarded a $97,280,236 modification to contract for the production and delivery of M109A7 155mm self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles to U.S. Army.
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U.S. soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-82 FA), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, send the first set of Artillery rounds down range with the new M109A7 Paladin. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 weapons and tracked combat vehicle procurement, Army funds in the amount of $97,280,236 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

The M109A7 is the latest howitzer in the BAE Systems M109 family of vehicles, the primary indirect fire support system for the U.S. Army ABCTs (Armored Brigade Combat Teams). It uses the existing main armament and cab structure of a Paladin M109A6 and replaces the vehicle’s chassis components with modem components common to the Bradley vehicle. The improved chassis structure provides greater survivability and commonality with the existing systems in the ABCT, reducing operational sustainability costs by replacing obsolete components.

The US Army awarded a $688m contract to BAE Systems in October 2013 for the production of Paladin M109A7 tracked self-propelled howitzers, with an option to procure a total of 66 vehicle sets, including M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 artillery ammunition resupply tracked vehicles.

The M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) and M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked (CAT), formerly known as the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program, will replace the current M109A6 Paladin and the M992A2 FAASV respectively starting in Fiscal Year 2018.

The M109A7 SPH 155mm self-propelled howitzer is armed with a 39-caliber 155mm M284 cannon, which is fitted with an M182A1 gun mount and has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds.

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 fore 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 is used to store ammunition and charges for the M109A7. Its superstructure can carry 95 artillery rounds, powders, and primers.

U.S. soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, receive an M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked (CAT) at the battalion's motor pool on Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Picture source U.S. DoD)