General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), in partnership with KNDS, has unveiled the NEMESIS tracked artillery system at the FEINDEF International Defence & Security Exhibition in Madrid.
The system is based on the ASCOD platform and features the 155 mm / L52 Artillery Gun Module (AGM), developed by KNDS.
The NEMESIS system is designed for indirect fire support and can be operated by a crew of two, with an option for fully unmanned operation. The system’s automated design aims to enhance efficiency, and it includes a 360° azimuth capability, allowing it to fire while moving.
The system can achieve a firing range of up to 54/70 km, depending on the type of ammunition used, and features Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability.
The NEMESIS is built on the ASCOD platform, powered by a 1100 hp diesel engine. It can be equipped with steel or composite rubber tracks and is designed to operate on a variety of terrains. The system’s mobility is intended to enable rapid deployment and repositioning after firing, known as “Shoot & Scoot” tactics.
The NEMESIS follows the DONAR system, introduced by GDELS and KNDS 15 years ago as a tracked artillery demonstrator. According to the companies, the new system is part of ongoing efforts to develop self-propelled artillery that meets current operational requirements.
In addition to NEMESIS, the companies are also displaying the PIRANHA AAC, a wheeled 10×10 artillery system that was launched in 2024. Both systems are intended to offer options for artillery capability, with the tracked NEMESIS and the wheeled PIRANHA AAC providing flexibility for different operational needs.
The NEMESIS system is seen as a potential replacement for older artillery systems, such as the M109 howitzer, currently in service with the Spanish Army and other military operators.
Many already proven alternatives exist, Caesar, Archer, Bohdana, what does this have that the others don’t?
Maybe lower unit cost, with the system aimed at less cash flush militaries?
Not possible with a 50+ km range and the RCH 155 turret.
This is very expensive.
So it will be a diamond-priced system.
Agreed
Tracks & decent armour
Parts commonality with other Ascod variants for things such as drivetrain, engines, tracks etc.
A face only a mother would love.
Interesting.
But I can already see the biggest problem with such a system: it will be so expensive (to buy and maintain) that it won’t be possible to procure them in decent quantities.
It’s great to have high-end products, but we should start looking to develop balanced systems that are cheap and quick to produce as well.
Have we learned nothing from Ukraine?
No.
Governments priority is sending money to the MIC.
MIC ??
Military Industrial Complex
As Steve says.
Even President Eisenhower in his leaving address warned of its growing power.
As far as I’m concerned, our government sees the MoD budget primarily to feed it, not ensure the military has sufficient people, kit, assets, and pay.
Nothing I’ve seen has yet changed my mind.
It’s an interesting thought but without it we don’t have an industry to supply anything. TBH I don’t really see much parallel between the US Style MIC and the U.K if it ever existed the draw downs post Cold war wouldn’t have been allowed to the extent they were.
In the US it’s a very fine line between industry, profit, procurement officers retirement plans and Pork Belly Politics, the thing that is scary is for all the talk of DOGE and waste no one has gone near it. It’s the US 3rd Live Rail in Political survival you just don’t touch it.
In U.K I think we have something completely different, we have a Cross Party, wokist / treasury led agenda which uses the Conventional Military as convenient back stop for industrial relations / emergency relief issues and just ignores its true purpose.
The present investment in renewing the industrial base is mainly in the Ship building / steel making industry as it’s a Political tripwire for all parties but the vast majority is in the DNE to support our Nuclear CASD. The other investment seems to be as part of a supply chain for future military Aid or other European projects.
How else can we explain the present investment strategy at SFM, BAe, Rheinmetal all to build artillery barrels and BAe ramping up Munitions capacity when we have not ordered one single bit of Artillery.
It’s as if we are quite happy to build and supply parts / munitions for others to use as long as no one asks the Treasury for some money to buy our own.
I hear rumours about the SDR being imminent but it’s long on words and ambitions but very short of any real short term expenditure.
On this point, cheaper systems don’t really mean less money, as these cheaper systems are to be built in relatively large quantities and therefore can compensate.
It’s the R&D that loses out with this approach, but again, since it’s not a question of replacing high-end solutions with this but balancing very high-end and cost-effective systems, at the end of the day, you don’t lose anything.
It can even be more expensive, but much more interesting.
If done right (and in dreams, at the European level), you can even cycle the cheaper systems quickly toward second-hand buyers and maintain an important and updated inventory.
Well I’ve always believed in a balance between quality and quantity, buy buying cheaper OTS to supplement the gold plated.
The RN might be going down that route like a two tier fleet but the Army loves it’s multi billion projects with acronyms.
The one that constantly springs to mind with me is Patria to go alongside the ruinously expensive Boxer.
Unless this is GDELS trying to broaden the appeal of ASCOD and ASCOD based derivatives to existing customers I just don’t see any sense in this product. The market is full of wheeled, tracked and towed Artillery options and most are cheaper than this is going to be, we are going for the same turret mounted on Wheeled Boxer and as it’s modular Tracked Boxer would be logical tracked option.
The only thing I can think of is that as the USA is finally acknowledging that the M109 is on its last legs development wise, this is GDLS leveraging their US ASCOD platform as a ready to go replacement. With the US cutting M10 Booker orders that would make sense.
Not that I believe this for a second:
However if we where to operate Boxer in 7 and 4 Brigade, and Ajax in 1, 12 and 20, then Boxder RCH155 in 1 UK Div and Nemesis in 3 UK div would actually make some sense. But yeah, not likely.
If we are going to get RCH155 on Boxer anyway then getting it on Ascod as a tracked option makes sense given that I believe there are problems with tracked Boxer
That would be the dream option!
Not a chance in hell unless there are massive surprises in store, of the good kind.
Rumours persist Andover are still keen on extra Ares though.
We can all dream the dream 👍
Be fine for working with Ajax and some parts match, useful as a tracked option. Just not sure how many or cost. RCH 155, is the right choice for Boxer units support. Really depends how many are ordered. Its wise have a tracked SPG not all just wheeled.
Looks good, sounds ok, but yet another gold plate price tag? The interesting point that intrigued me was, “operated by a crew of two, with an option for fully unmanned operation”.
I am wondering if the ‘unmanned’ ability would make this a system of more ‘interest’ to potential users?
I’m not sure you would ever want something so expensive, limited in numbers and vital as an unmanned option. Industry is still trying to sell the gold plated mega expensive autonomous platforms, but actually what Ukraine has shown is that autonomous systems and drones are actually all about the return of cheap mass and attritional capabilities to the battlefield.. no one cares how many drones die in the winning of a war.. so you can produce and losses them by the hundreds or thousands… but for that they need to be cheap… maybe a cheap 81mm or 120mm mortar unmanned platform.. but not this.
Yeah that is the interesting part.
Can’t see the UK been really interested in this System. Looking like our government fully committed to Boxer RHC 155 just like the conservative government of the time .Personally I think we’d be better off with more Archer platforms .