PALADIN M109A7 155MM ARTILLERY SYSTEM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Paladin M109A7 next-generation artillery system being manufactured by BAE Systems is a significant upgrade to the combatproven M109A6 Paladin cannon artillery system. The enhanced artillery system will offer key fire-support for a variety of potential combat missions conducted by the US Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) in conventional, hybrid, irregular and counter-insurgency combat environments. The US Army awarded a $688 million contract to BAE Systems in October 2013 for the production of Paladin M109A7 artillery systems, with an option to procure a total of 66.5 vehicle sets including a self-propelled howitzer and an ammunition resupply vehicle. The artillery system was inducted into low rate initial production (LRIP) in May 2014, while full rate production is expected to commence in 2017. As part of a $195 million initial contract, The first vehicle is expected to be delivered in mid-2015. Paladin M109A6 is a cannon artillery system developed by the Ground System Division of United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments) and manufactured at the Paladin Production Operation centre at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

The US Army and BAE Systems signed a memorandum of understanding for the Paladin integrated management (PIM) programme to upgrade the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and its associated M992A2 field artillery ammunition support vehicle. The authority intends to procure 580 sets of PIM vehicles, which are expected to sustain through 2050.