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BAE Systems Land & Armaments has received a US$249.2 million contract modfication to provide ongoing support and munitions for the US Army’s fleet of M109A7 Paladin self-propelled guns.
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The contract modification builds on a US$133.5 million contract awarded in March 2017 as part of a firm-fixed-price contract for early procurement material to support M109A7/M992A3 vehicle production.
The M109A7 program enhances the reliability, maintainability, performance, responsiveness and lethality of the combat-proven M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV), while providing increased commonality within the US Army Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT).
The M109A7 is the latest howitzer in the BAE Systems M109 family of vehicles, the primary indirect fire support system for the ABCTs. It uses the existing main armament and cab structure of a Paladin M109A6, and replaces the vehicle’s chassis components with modem components common to the Bradley vehicle.
The improved chassis structure provides greater survivability and commonality with the existing systems in the ABCT, reducing operational sustainability costs by replacing obsolete components.
The M109A7 is supported by the Army as a vital technology enhancement program to maintain the combat capability of its ABCTs.
The M109A7 will solve long-term readiness and modernisation needs of the M109 family of vehicles through a critical redesign and production plan that leverages the most advanced technology available today.
This state-of-the-art “digital backbone” and power generation capability provides a more robust, survivable and responsive indirect fire support capability for ABCT soldiers.
The M109A7 is considered to be the most cost-effective method to significantly improve sustainability and survivability, while reducing the logistics burden on the ABCT and supporting fires brigades.
The program will be executed as a public/private partnership between the Army’s Project Manager-HBCT, Anniston Army Depot and BAE Systems that leverages the strengths of both public and private sectors to ensure the best value for US soldiers.
The M109A7 production would be performed at Anniston Army Depot, Alabama and BAE Systems facilities in York, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Endicott, New York; and Elgin, Oklahoma.
The M992A3 is a FAASV, a heavily armoured munitions carrier that assists the M109A7's mission.
Under the original contract, BAE received $133.5 million for the vehicles. In February 2018, the contractor received $148 million to procure materials to build the vehicles.
Work will take place in York and should be completed 31 January 2023.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
