The U.S. Army has awarded a $162 million (£124 million) contract to BAE Systems for the production of major structures used in the M777 lightweight howitzer, the company announced on 15 April.
The deal finalises an Undefinitised Contract Action (UCA) that began in December 2023, allowing BAE Systems to begin initial work ahead of the full contract award. Production will involve both U.S. and UK supply chains, with some of the first components set to be manufactured at the firm’s new artillery development and production facility in Sheffield, as well as at locations in the United States.
The M777, a 155mm towed howitzer, is noted for its lightweight titanium structure and has seen widespread service with military forces across the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, and India.
The system is known for its mobility and rapid deployment capability, weighing roughly half as much as conventional 155mm towed artillery systems.
BAE Systems stated that production of the new components will begin in 2026, and that the revival of the M777 manufacturing line comes amid “interest from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.” The company said the restart allows customers to benefit from economies of scale and a live production line.
In a statement, John Borton, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Weapons Systems UK, said: “This contract is a major milestone in revitalising M777 production at a critical time, where the howitzers are playing a key role in operations in Europe.”
BAE Systems also indicated that ongoing developments for the M777 include technical upgrades, support for long-range precision-guided munitions, and improvements to mobility options. With more than 1,250 M777 units already in global service, the system remains one of the most widely used and combat-proven lightweight howitzers in the world.
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I would like to see the UK get a few M777 for rapid deployment situations.
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Isn’t the problem the weight of the ammo vs 105?
96 lbs for 155 HE shell, perhaps a 105 mm version.
I suspect that is a MoD excuse to avoid buying M777. You cannot lift a tracked or wheeled SP 155 under a helicopter. You can with M777. Yes it is niche, but vital when those situations arise.
Love to see the British Army get some of these Artillery pieces.
George if you read this, your comments section’s are infested with get rich quick schemes. Its killing any reason to have any discourse on the same.
I doubt he’s able to read the comments section these days -same as anyone else.
Should this gun replace the light gun? yes its has better range, greater choice of ammo but its heavier and hard move locally around locations and needs a bigger crew and re supply vehicle and prime mover. Any thoughts on that?
I can’t claim to have much expertise in the area of artillery, but having read the views of many that do, the Ukraine war has shown that 105mm artillery is of very limited use in peer to peer conflict. In which case replacing the LG with M777 sounds like a sensible idea.
On the other hand, the terrain and tactics in Ukraine may mean that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly. Especially as another lesson of the war seems to be that ‘shoot and scoot’ is becoming a more important tactic, in the age of drones, so maybe we need to do away with static artillery altogether? Not aware of any modern 105mm LG replacements either.
The army looked at LIMAWS, the M777 portee version years ago. Although not as quick in and out of action as Caesar or Archer, it wasn’t slow. Based on a Supacat platform, it would be a powerful system for lighter forces.
Actually, the Ukrainian’s use the 105mm to great effect!
And they are not to be ignored
The many aid packages updated all the time include 105mm
Any type of artillery is useful as it might be the difference between life and death
Combined with the NV drones…LETHAL…day and night targeting
I think it would be a mistake for the British Army to discount 105mm, in any form static or shoot and scoot!
Like PETER S says..sticking one on a Supacat or similar platform you gain flexibility for the Light Brigade’s
The light gun has range of 17200 m that is not far the shell weight is small there are no guided rounds for it or cluster or in fact any smart rounds. The M777 has double the range, is heavier harder to move on gun position but regardless we need an air portable gun for some places vehicles cannot get to, ie jungle, mountains, Norway , soft ground like the Falklands, The light gun a gun i used and trained on is a great gun but is lacking in too many ways.
A mobile/wheeled mounted light gun is fine but it will likely be too heavy and could hard to lift in and out.
There’s the UK Light Fires platform centred on the 127mm but not sure if this is still running and the 120mm mortar which I think was Babcock & STE jv. If the 105mm is deemed ineffective why not try upping it to a 120mm?
Why restart something that has been a failure.like all western arms it has not been able to compete so try again with a better design.
Dave, M777 is a failure? Did you not read: “With more than 1,250 M777 units already in global service, the system remains one of the most widely used and combat-proven lightweight howitzers in the world.
I wouldn’t waste your time Graham, Dave here clearly subscribes to the Kremlin propaganda line that Western weapons systems in Ukraine have been proven unsuitable for actual combat conditions. Whilst there have certainly been teething problems with systems like PzH 2000 being used more heavily than they were ever designed to be, I think in the M777’s case this is an especially unfounded argument. M777 has proven superior in range and accuracy to all of its Soviet and Russian competitors, it’s only potential weakness that isn’t just an inherent trait of a towed howitzer being sustained rate of fire which is purely a function of the rate of production for replacement barrels and parts – something which will hopefully be addressed to a degree by this announcement.
Probably gets a kickback for allowing it.