BAE Systems received a contract award valued at $535 million to produce additional M109A7 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzers and M992A3 Ammunition Carriers for the U.S. Army. As a key capability in the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team formation, the M109A7 Paladin provides advanced firepower and maneuverability, enabling artillery units to rapidly deploy and engage targets with precision. With its “scoot-and-shoot” capability, the M109A7 can deliver precise fires in under 30 seconds when emplaced or within a minute while on the move, ensuring both survivability and effectiveness in high-threat environments. Equipped with an adaptable chassis and next-generation capabilities, the M109A7 is one of the lightest tracked self-propelled howitzer systems on the battlefield, engineered to perform in even the most challenging terrains and conditions.
“The M109A7 Paladin is a battle-proven platform that delivers what Soldiers need to succeed on today’s battlefield,” said Dan Furber, Combat Mission Systems vice president of Artillery programs. “With its reliable performance and robust industrial base, the Paladin ensures our troops have the firepower and support they can count on when it matters most.”
The M109, widely known as the Paladin,[6] is an American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s to replace the M44 and M52. It has been upgraded a number of times, most recently to the M109A7. The M109 family is the most common Western indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions. It has a crew of four: the section chief/commander, the driver, the gunner, and the ammunition handler/loader. First produced in 1963.The newest M109 version for U.S. service is the M109A7, formerly known as the M109A6 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM). The M109A7 shares common chassis components with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) such as the engine, transmission, and tracks. This creates commonality with other systems and maximizes cost savings in production, parts inventory, and maintenance personnel.
The M109 was developed by the Ground System Division of United Defense LP, later BAE Systems Platforms & Services. BAE Systems continues to strengthen its role across the defense industrial base through ongoing self-investments in advancing artillery capabilities, expanding manufacturing capacity and driving operational excellence. These efforts reflect the company’s unwavering commitment to the innovation, reliability and mission success of the M109A7 Paladin program, to meet the evolving needs of the U.S. Army.
