Troopers with U.S. 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-82 FA), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, send the first set of Artillery rounds down range with the new M109A7 Paladin, Sept. 17, 2020.
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Troopers with U.S. 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-82 FA), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, send the first set of Artillery rounds down range with the new M109A7 Paladin, Sept. 17, 2020 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Sgt. Calab Franklin)

The M109A7 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzer is an upgraded version of the M109A6 Paladin. It benefits from an entirely new cab and cannon assembly. While the vehicle's cannon remains unchanged, the M109A7 sports brand new chassis, engine, transmission, suspension, and steering system. These components are also found on the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles, thus increasing commonality and reducing logistical footprints and cost. Improved survivability is also a main line of effort in the upgrade program.

The first prototype was unveied in 2007. Prototypes of the M109A7 began tests at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (Arizona) in 2008 when the original concept demonstrator was brought out for testing. Formal developmental testing began after that. In 2013, this artillery system was approved for production and a contract was issued to BAE Systems to upgrade a first batch of M109A6 systems to the M109A7 standard. The US Army planned to obtain a fleet of 580 M109A7 howitzers and the same number of associated M992A3 armored ammunition support vehicles.

In April 2014, U.S. Army received the first delivery of the first low-rate initial production M109A7. In November 2015, The U.S. Army awarded BAE Systems a contract option worth $245.3 million to complete the low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the M109A7s and M992A3 ammunition carriers. In December 2017, the U.S. Army awarded BAE Systems a contract that clears the path to begin full-rate production of the M109A7s and M992A3s.

In March 2018, field artillery soldiers tested both new systems. U.S. soldiers from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Brigade conducted several training events leading up to the Initial Operational Test (IOT) of the latest Paladin.

In December 2019, BAE Systems Land & Armaments was awarded a $249,152,760 modification to contract W56HZV-17-C-0001 for the Self-Propelled Howitzer and carrier, ammunition, tracked vehicles and their associated support under the production contract to build and deliver M109A7s and M992A3s. In December 2019, U.S. Army awarded BAE Systems a $249 million contract modification to complete an additional order of 60 M109A7 self-propelled howitzers.

M109A7 Paladin howitzer and its associated M992A3 armored ammunition support vehicle of the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-82 FA), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division onSept. 17, 2020 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Sgt. Calab Franklin)