US Army to get new self-propelled howitzer after 20yrs of waiting

[Zarvan]

The M109 Paladin Integrated Management, or "M109 PIM," is slated to begin low-rate initial production by 2013. The 40-ton, next-generation 155mm Howitzer artillery cannon is able to fire precision rounds, accommodate additional armor protections and power more on-board electrical systems. (Image from Wikipedia/The Official Home Page of the United States Army | The United States Army

Military, SciTech, USA
The US military is about to receive its first new artillery piece in two decades, with the M109A7 PIM (Paladin Integrated Management) self-propelled howitzer to be unveiled on Thursday.

The hardware represents the US Army’s “new approach to acquisition, in which expensive, ambitious, all-new designs give way to incremental, but still substantial changes to existing platforms,” Sydney Freedberg, Breaking Defense website deputy editor, said.

According to Freedberg, a source in the Congress told him that M109A7 PIM “is not a truly new vehicle in that it borrows from others, but still a success.”

PIM is a long-awaited arrival for the US military as experts warned of American artillery being outmatched by competitors after the cancellation of two of its next-gen self-propelled gun programs – the XM 2001 Crusader and XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon.





The facade of the new howitzer looks similar to its predecessor the M109A6 or even the original M109 self-propelled gun from the 1960s.

But Freedberg stressed that “PIM is more like surgically transplanting someone’s head onto a new body: It takes the old gun turret and installs it on an all-new chassis.”

UK-based contractor BAE Systems, which developed the new howitzer, also stressed that M109A7 is more than just upgrade of an already existing hardware.

“M109A6 built a new turret and put it on the old chassis. M109A7 put a new chassis under the A6 turret, with a few upgrades to the turret, and effectively in two steps the Army built a new howitzer,” Mark Signorelli, BAE Systems head of combat vehicle programs, told Breaking Defense.



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Despite PIM receiving a new electronic gun drive system and an improved automated loader, its canon 155/39 mm will remain unchanged.

The gun is capable of firing four rounds per-minute, including M982 Excalibur precision munition with range of 40km.

The M109A7 turned out to be 25 percent heavier than its predecessor, with the new model generating 50 percent more horsepower and almost four times as much electrical power.

The PIM project is being praised not for combat qualities, but primarily for its cost-efficiency.

According to Military-Today website, the new self-propelled gun “shares engine, transmission, tracks and some other components with the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Such commonality allows to reduce production, operating and maintenance costs.”

Earlier, Signorelli told Defense News website that one “could take a driver out of a Bradley, drop him in a PIM, and he'd be just as at home, whereas before it was a completely different vehicle."

The US military plans to purchase 580 sets of PIMs, which are expected to remain in service until 2050.

The first deliveries are expected to arrive later this year, while full-scale production will only begin in 2017.
US Army to get new self-propelled howitzer after 20yrs of waiting — RT USA

 

[T90TankGuy]

Nice to see that even the US has to wait a while to get one
we have been waiting for close to three decades.

 

[Nike]

is nice though, still wonder why they are keep sticking with Paladin basic design

 

[C130]

would of preferred a whole new system with a 52 calibre gun, but of course the U.S big wigs just won't buy foreign

K9 Thunder would of been my choice of a new SPH

 

[Indus Falcon]

United States army takes delivery of first M109A7 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer.
Published: Saturday, 11 April 2015

U.S. military personnel and defense contractors celebrated delivery of the first low-rate initial production M109A7 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer to the Army during a ceremony here, April 9. The M109A7, produced by BAE Systems, will replace the current M109A6 Self-Propelled Howitzer, formerly known as the Paladin Integrated Management program, as one of the Army's most critical combat vehicle modernization programs.

M109A7 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer​

"The M109A7 stands at the vanguard of a series of ground combat modernization upgrades, which will significantly enhance the Army's combat fleet for decades to come," said Heidi Shyu, the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.

The platform will provide armored brigade combat teams with a highly responsive indirect fire system capable of keeping pace with the Abrams tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicles on the battlefield.
This next generation howitzer incorporates enhanced capabilities such as a brand new chassis, engine, transmission, suspension, and steering system - components common to the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles. This commonality reduces overall program cost and the logistical footprint coupled with improved survivability to maintain dominance on the battlefield.

"Today marks a significant milestone for the Army, the field artillery, the Lawton/Fort Sill/Elgin community, and especially BAE Systems," said Mark Signorelli, BAE Systems vice president and general manager, combat vehicles. "Our team is proud and honored to be able to deliver increased performance, survivability, and reliability to our Soldiers through the M109A7 and M992A3 family of vehicles. It has been a long road and many have contributed to this success."

The M109A6 Paladin vehicles and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles were shipped to Anniston Army Depot during summer 2014, when they were disassembled to provide cab structures, overhauled gun and cannon assemblies, and other vehicle components.

M109A7 (L) self-propelled howitzer and M992A3 (R) carrier-ammunition tracked vehicle​

The entirely new chassis, built at BAE Systems' facility in York, Pennsylvania, was married with the reworked Anniston components at the new BAE Systems production facility in Elgin for final assembly.
"This [M109A7 Paladin program] is really an example of acquisition done right, and today's ceremony is a major step in keeping our promise to provide our field artillery Soldiers with the best self-propelled howitzer available," said Brig. Gen. David G. Bassett, the Army's program executive officer for ground combat systems.

Bassett also discussed how, "the improvements not only bring significant commonality, a reduced logistical footprint and lifecycle costs savings to a large portion of the armored brigade combat team, they also ensure relevancy by providing crucial offensive and defensive fires in support of combined arms maneuver, wide area security and other full-spectrum operations."

In addition to a new chassis, the M109A7 also receives a 600-volt on-board power system designed to accommodate emerging technologies and future requirements as well as current requirements like the battlefield network.

The low-rate initial production, or LRIP, contract award was granted to BAE Systems, Oct. 30, 2013, after the program was approved to enter the production and deployment phase.



United States army takes delivery of first M109A7 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analyse focus army defence military industry army

 

[flamer84]

would of preferred a whole new system with a 52 calibre gun, but of course the U.S big wigs just won't buy foreign

K9 Thunder would of been my choice of a new SPH

The German Pzh2000 is the best out there,including rate of fire.

 

[C130]

The German Pzh2000 is the best out there,including rate of fire.

that's up to debate, but i think most would agree Pzh2000 is the best in the world, but it's not leaps and bounds better than the K9 as it is compared to the M109A6.

South Korea buys tons of weapons from the U.S including the F-35 and I would think it would only fair if we bought a system from them.. the K9 is one of those systems I would want from SK.

 

[Indus Falcon]

that's up to debate, but i think most would agree Pzh2000 is the best in the world, but it's not leaps and bounds better than the K9 as it is compared to the M109A6.

South Korea buys tons of weapons from the U.S including the F-35 and I would think it would only fair if we bought a system from them.. the K9 is one of those systems I would want from SK.

They'd gladly sell it to you with ToT !!!!

 

[shazlion]

PAK ARMY MUST ACQUIRE THEM OR SIMILAR LIKE THIS ONE..........THEY HAVE MASSIVE FIRE POWER
PAK MUST BUILD IT'S OWN LIKE THESE ONES