M109 Paladin

The U.S. Army’s latest tracked self-propelled howitzer — a 155 mm L/39 gun on a Bradley-common chassis, delivering sustained indirect fire for armored brigade combat teams.

Overview

The M109A7 Paladin is a tracked 155 mm self-propelled howitzer that serves as the standard armored indirect-fire platform for the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams. Developed under the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program, the A7 is the newest variant of the M109 family, which has been in service since the 1960s. The system marries a proven M284 cannon with an upgraded turret and a chassis that shares engines, transmissions, and tracks with the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, simplifying logistics and improving mobility.

Development

BAE Systems created the M109A7 as a deep upgrade of the M109A6 Paladin, rather than an all-new design, to replace the legacy fleet without requiring wholesale retraining or infrastructure change. The PIM concept sought to modernize hull, power-pack, and suspension while retaining the existing ordnance and ammunition handling, according to Army Technology. First prototypes appeared in the early 2010s, and the type entered service with the U.S. Army in 2018, achieving full-rate production in 2022. Multiple multi-year procurement contracts have since been placed, including a $418 million order in 2022 covering 40 vehicle sets, as reported by Army Technology.

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