BAE Systems to deliver next week first production vehicle M109A7 Paladin to U.S. Army

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BAE Systems to deliver next week first production vehicle M109A7 Paladin to U.S. Army.
BAE Systems will make next week the first delivery of its production vehicle for the Army's upgraded M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers program. Delivery will be in Elgin, Oklahoma. The vehicles are built at BAE's York, Pennsylvania, facility, and final assembly is in Elgin.
     
BAE Systems will make next week the first delivery of its production vehicle for the Army's upgraded M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers program. Delivery will be in Elgin, Oklahoma. The vehicles are built at BAE's York, Pennsylvania, facility, and final assembly is in Elgin. BAE Systems M109A7 Paladin 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer
     
The M109A7 Paladin is the successor to the M109A6 155mm howitzer, and continues to use the same gun as the older artillery piece. But from the bearing ring on down, the M1097A7 uses a new weapon system, one that comes with digital displays and a 70 kilowatt, 600-volt on-board power system.

This 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 counterinsurgency combat environments.

BAE Systems was awarded a one-year base contract for the M109A7, formerly the Paladin Integrated Management program, in October 2013. The current contract is the first of three option year awards to produce an additional 18 vehicle sets — 18 M109A7 howitzers and 18 carrier ammunition, tracked vehicles for approximately $142 million. Once all options are exercised, the Army intends to purchase a total of 66.5 vehicle sets plus spares, kits, and technical documentation. One set includes a M109A7 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer along with its battlefield companion, the M992A3 Carrier Ammunition, Tracked (CAT).

The M109A7 program is a significant upgrade over the vehicle’s predecessor, the M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer, restoring space, weight, and power-cooling, while providing growth potential for emerging technologies. The design includes a Bradley-common chassis, engine, transmission, suspension, steering system, and improved survivability, while leveraging technologies developed during the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon program such as a 600 volt on-board power system. The state-of-the-art “digital-backbone” and power generation capability provides significant growth potential for future payloads as well as accommodating existing battlefield network requirements.