M109A6 Paladin artillery vehicles sporting tan color on military tanks

Related: Army picks Oshkosh Defense to build 30-millimeter cannon and vetronics for Stryker armored combat vehicles Legacy M109 howitzers first are shipped to the Anniston Army Depot, Ala., where they are disassembled to provide cab structures, overhauled gun and cannon assemblies, and other vehicle components, and re-shipped to BAE Systems combat vehicle factory in York, Pa., for final assembly. The M109A7 can fire high-explosive shells or parachute-equipped battlefield illumination flares. The M109A7 capitalized on today's most advanced technology, including a state-of-the-art digital backbone and power generation capability, BAE Systems officials say. The program seeks to reduce maintenance costs by replacing obsolete components. Its improved chassis provides greater survivability and commonality with existing ABCT armored combat vehicles. The M109A7 is the primary indirect fire support system for the armored brigade combat teams. The M109A7 program enhances the reliability, maintainability, performance, responsiveness, and lethality of the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle’s (FAASV). Related: BAE Systems to provide artillery armored combat vehicles with digital vetronics in $72.5 million order

The goal of these upgrades is to enable the M109A7 155-millimeter artillery to keep pace with the Army's fast-moving armored brigade combat team (ABCT) alongside the M1 Abrams main battle tank and the M2 Bradley armored personnel carrier. Formerly known as the M109A6 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) version, the M109A7 uses the existing main armament and cab structure of a Paladin M109A6 self-propelled artillery system, and replaces the vehicle’s chassis components with modem components common to the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

The M109A7 is the newest M109 version for U.S. Officials of the Army Contracting Command-Tank and Automotive in Warren, Mich., are asking the BAE Systems Platforms & Services segment in York, Pa., for additional M109A7 self-propelled howitzer artillery and M992A3 ammunition carriers. Army is buying upgraded and fast-moving large-caliber field artillery cannons with digital vetronics and modern power systems, as well as their companion carrier ammunition tracked armored combat vehicles under terms of a $97.3 million order announced Friday.

M109A6 Paladin artillery vehicles sporting tan color on military tanks