BAE Systems has been awarded a contract valued up to $318 million from the U.S. Army to perform technical and sustainment support services for its fleet of M109A6 and A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPH) and their companion, M992A3 carrier, ammunition, tracked (CAT) vehicles.
Under the five-year System Technical Support and Sustainment System Technical Support contract, BAE Systems will deliver ongoing engineering and logistics services to provide new capabilities, maintenance, and testing on the family of vehicles.
“The M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer continues to prove itself as the ‘King of Battle’ as it provides the firepower and maneuverability to dominate the battlefield,” said Dan Furber, director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems business.
“Sustainment services for the M109 allow the U.S. Army to maintain a high level of operational readiness to take this powerful capability to the fight.”
According to the firm:
“The services contract follows the M109A7 production contract awarded in November 2023. The M109A7 is the latest howitzer in the M109 family of vehicles, the primary indirect fire support system for the Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT). 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.
BAE Systems offers critical lifecycle support to the Army wherever it is needed in-country for its sustainment programs. Services in this contract will be provided at military bases in the U.S. and around the world, as well as at BAE Systems facilities in York, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Endicott, New York; Elgin, Oklahoma; and Aiken, South Carolina.”
I wonder if the new resignations in congress will make any difference to being able to pass aid for Ukraine now.
It’s crazy how a handful of whack jobs can derail 70 years of America foreign policy and Geo political positioning for the want of a few quid because it’s literally a few quid to them and almost all the money is theoretical. It’s either attaching theoretical values to old US ordinance or its underwriting IMF loans to Ukraine.
I am afraid the US political system is stuck in the 1700’s, with an elected king. Congress doesn’t know how to govern because they were ever intended to. Hence they don’t see themselves as part of the government. There is a disconnect between the government (President), congress & senate.
Never heard anyone else portray matters as I do over the years so good to see others seeing through the Emporor’s clothes. We have far too long played along with the US rewriting of history so as not to upset them, hell even the Pilgrim Father myths long forgotten were only propelled into the American mindset post Civil War to write the Virginian settlements, which ironically most States especially the original ones, derived their constitution directly from, out of history as they narrowly chose the wrong side to be worthy of the new creation myth. As I have long said… Read more »
Hmm, I often think about Plato”s “five forms of Government”.
It isn’t just a handfull of whack jobs. If it was, this would never happen. It is two sets of paranoid political parties that will never accept that sometimes a bill put forward by the other party might, just might, have enough merit to be agreed on. Add to that the people who do everything to oppose and obstruct the other side. The system has failed America, as have both parties.
Problem is the consensus to govern around the inherent 18th Century faults in the US Constitution that obviously couldn’t foresee modern concepts of democracy so for the most part democratised the monarchial original and set it in concrete has suddenly been overturned by a President/future President who is determined to exploit those King like powers that have always been there if mostly hidden that others morally have never dared to go or indeed could have got away with. We now have the man who would be King supported by a large section of the population however who would never accept… Read more »
Actually there system could work just fine if it had more than two parties. It’s beyond me how using basically the same FPTP system as the UK for the same amount of time the US has managed to stay rigidly to two 18th century parties and political concepts with an almost equal splitting.
Government is more like a coin toss in such situations than a true democracy.
That being said hopefully they can sort their current s**t out and send some shells to Ukraine.
As a Brit living in Florida I see and hear the all encompassing cry of “Freedom” which here , in my opinion, means that the rules dont apply to themselves only to those who are “different” in any way whatsoever. Again, in my opinion, there is a caustic reasoning that the “me” is always right and the “you” is wrong and shooting would be too good.
If aid to Ukraine is so vital to the survival of the UK and Europe then it’s only fitting that the UK and the rest of Europe provide it. Is aid to Ukraine more important than the NHS? Apparently not. Is the UK willing to borrow and increase its debt? The US would have to borrow to fund aid to Ukraine, so why shouldn’t the Uk and Europe?.
EU GDP – 19 Trillion
Why does a continent with a GDP of $19 Trillion have to rely on a country 5,000 miles away to defend it?
Realistically, Europe is far less concerned about China than America is. Yet the likes of the UK support US needs in the Pacific. Europe has actually eclipsed the US in future aid promised… ‘Total EU commitments are now almost double those of the US.’ from https://www.ifw-kiel.de/publications/news/ukraine-support-tracker-europe-clearly-overtakes-us-with-total-commitments-now-twice-as-large/ Fact is, US has long complained about Europe – but it’s Europe that now takes the lead and the US is becoming more and more isolated…
History repeats itself – the same questions would have been asked during WW1 and in 1940.
Yep – I’d much rather the UK put its oar in with European democracies rather than the play ground bully that is the USA- I really dont like beng Americas poodle.
That would of course include procurment of military hardware- methinks that would upset the apple cart a tad too much
Interesting and somewhat curious that none of these posts have much relevance to an article on the award of a sustainment contract for the M109, to BAE Systems. 🤔😉
It’s Holy week. The forces of darkness hold sway 🙂
😁👍
If an old platform like the M109 can be upgraded and still be deemed an adequate weapon system, why can’t the UK upgrade its AS90s. Both use a 39 caliber 155 mm gun.
And/or purchase some reconditioned M109A6 from US or purchase new M109A7 from BAES? Presume the cost would be lower for “pre-owned” vehicles. 🤔
The British Army used to have M109’s but replaced them with AS90’s, maybe they should have kept the 109’s.
It is surprising that the country that spends by far the most on defence has so much equipment in service that was initially designed and built decades ago. Abrams, Bradley, M109, M113; F15, F16, F18, B52; Arleigh Burke, Ticonderoga, Nimitz.
It isn’t just money: so many replacement programmes have been cancelled, curtailed or proven unsatisfactory that refurbishing old designs probably seems less risky.