BAE Systems has successfully fired 155-millimeter projectiles using a modified M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer equipped with the Rheinmetall L52 155mm, 52-caliber cannon.
This upgraded version, known as the M109-52, is a significant enhancement over the existing 39-caliber cannon.
“We’ve demonstrated that the integrated system of the M109-52 is a viable solution for long-range precision fires modernization needs,” remarked Dan Furber, the director of Ground Vehicle Production for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems division.
“Integrating these two highly capable and proven artillery systems provides stable designs and predictable performance.”
The recent live-fire trial took place at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, verifying the compatibility of the L52 cannon with the established M109A7 platform. BAE Systems has outlined plans for further testing in 2024, with a focus on evaluating extended range using diverse projectiles.
Camp Ripley, believe it or not.
Not really new ?
They also tested a caliber 58 iirc, which has a range of over 65 km, but at the cost of the tube life.
BAE seems to make good artillery. Is the U.K. missing a trick not getting them to do 155mm for U.K. services. If a turret could be mounted on tracked and wheeled vehicles it should be looked at instead of getting some foreign system that will be difficult to up production, order parts etc if they are in high demand else where.
A company swallowed up by BAE, namely VSEL, of course built the 155mm AS90.
Their upgraded AS90 (aka Braveheart) may well have still been effective if we had selected it some years ago.
Unrelated directly but just listened to a ten year old lecture by Alan Bond the aviation engineer, who lamented about how Britain is brilliant at coming up with ideas, even developing them to a great degree but once and if they are produced loses interest. Seems appropriate for many promising or established projects indeed. Had a particular distaste for Keneth Clarke in this regard.
I always thought it a great shame that none of Barnes Wallis’ post-war designs were taken into production.
Surely this IS a foreign system in all but name, there’s not even a British produced base vehicular it could be attached to, unless Boxer was an option but then surely it would be better to utilise the existing Rheinmetall RCH or other 155mm turret designs for the vehicle than try to add a different one. Only other option might be a Supercat design but seems unlikely.
Archer is of course a BAE product – it is made by their Swedish Bofors division. As we have bought 14 Archer, then we have bought BAE 155mm artillery. I am sure we need to buy more Archer so we at least have one regt, minimum.
Are you suggesting procuring a tracked BAE 155mm system as well? We could have had their AS90 Braveheart some years ago! A tweaked version of Braveheart may well be a match for the Korean K9 Thunder.
Would this be a serious competitor to K9?
Well seeing as how Polands preferred SPG is the AS90 Braveheart turret mounted on a K9 chassis you would think so. They chose it over the Pzh2000
It is called Krab and is in production for Polish and Ukrainian armies.
The reason they are buying 000’s of K9’s as well is availability and timescales.
How could you not buy a British gun called Braveheart?
Good Evening,
Why don’t we buy the upgraded M109?
Nick
So the army gets rid of their M109s for new AS90s then doesn’t upgrade them and gets M109s again.
I would personally go half wheeled, half tracked. I don’t care what tracked just the best price for capability
Thanks Monkey! Of course the Army needs as much of the capability they can get to re-arm! Never mind it’s Swedish, Korean or American! Do it before it’s to late! As well as upgrading our lack of land based missile and gun Defence for Infrastruktur protection.
Nick Germany
Might be good to go half/half, or third /two thirds for IFV mix too.
We have always had a wheeled and tracked mix for everything, inlcuding artillery, recce vehicles and infantry carriers.
We moved on from M109 when we replaced it by AS90 in 1992.
Of course upgraded M109 should be quite good compared to 80s/90s versions, but why not buy British? – say a tweaked Braveheart.
See Polish Krab for details.
That is one interesting vehicle. Hopefully a combination of the best elements available.
That’s pretty well what they have done. They had trials between the main competitors and picked the AS90M Braveheart turret with a L52 x 155mm gun. They settled on the K9 hull as the carrier.
What is wrong with us ? Let’s buy this or that bit of foreign built kit. M109a7 with a 155mm / 52 Rheinmetall gun of Archer which is a BAe design, mmm no it isn’t it’s the old Bofers FH70 155mm gun mounted with a magazine and auto loader on a Volvo or MANN truck.
Of take the best towed 155mm Howitzer in the west, which is genuine UK BAe design and adapt it for both Tracked and Wheeled use.
The M777a which was designed, built and tested here in Britain but never ordered. Instead BAe build them in the US and they are exported from there.
True, Very good SPGs were made at Barrow-in-Furness by VSEL for many years, including AS90.
Fully agree that it was bizarre that MoD did not order the M777, either as a 105mm LG replacement, FH70 replacement or an additional weapon system. Goodness knows, the army needs more artillery.