Friday, November 21, 2008

M109

IOC: 1962
Total Production: 4,000

M109A5

Also Known As
M109
M109A1
M109A2
M109A3
M109A3G
M109A4
M109AL
M109L
M992

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
United Defense

Applications
M109A6 Paladin

Munitions:
M982 Excalibur

Description: M109 is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer developed in the 1950s as a replacement for the US Army's M44. It features full tracked chassis, one M185 or M284 155mm cannon as primary armament and a roof-mounted M2 .50 caliber machine gun as secondary armament. M109s equipped with M185 cannon achieves ranges of 23,500 meters while M284 a top range of 30,000 meters firing rocket-assisted projectiles.

M109 primary armament is suitable for both beyond line-of-sight and line-of-sight engagements. M109A5/A6 models were equipped with the M284 cannon replacing M185 on previous models. M109s have been deployed providing artillery fire support during Vietnam, Iran-Iraq (1980s), Middle East wars between Israel and Arab nations (1960s-1980s), operation Desert Storm (1991) and operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).

In addition to the US Army, M109 howitzers have been sold to more than 30 international customers with over 4,000 units produced to date. M109A3G is an improved M109A3 variant utilized by the German Army. M109L is a modified M109 utilized by the Italian Army. M09AL is utilized by Israel. The M992 is a re-supply armored vehicle derived from the M109 chassis. M992 carries 155 ammunition and charges protected under armor for M109 howitzers deployed on the battlefield.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 6

Guns: Main Gun Caliber 155 mm

Dimensions: Height 3 m, Length 9.1 m, Width 3.1 m

Weights: Max Weight 25,000 kg (55,115 lb)

Performance: Main Gun Max Range 23,500 m (77,100 ft), Max Range 349 km (188 nm), Top Speed 16 mps (31 kt)

Other: Max Rate of Fire 4 rounds per minute, Sustained Rate of Fire 1 rounds per minute

M109A5 - Contracts, Orders & Sales

see transactions report

M109A5 SP howitzer; items: 115; transferred from the United States of America to Pakistan in 2007
Items: 115 Options: 0 Purchase Rights: 0

M109 howitzer; items: 24; transferred from Switzerland and Chile in 2006
Items: 24

M109A3; items: 24; transferred from United States of America to Chile in 2005
Items: 24

M109A5; items: 20; transferred from United States of America to Bahrain in 2005
Items: 20

M109; items: 40; transferred from Switzerland to United Arab Emirates in 2004
Items: 40

M109A5 (190) and M109A2 (9) self-propelled howitzer; items: 199; transferred from United States of America to Egypt between 2004 and 2007
Items: 199

Delivery	Items
2007	161 M109A5
2006	4 4 M109A5
2005	26 25 M109A5s and 1 M109A2
2004	8 8 M109A2

M109 artillery systems; items: 48; transferred from United States of America to Saudi Arabia in 2002 and 2004
Items: 48

Delivery	Items
2004	4 M109A5
2002	44

M109A2; items: 1; transferred from Austria to United Kingdom in 2002
Items: 1

M109; items: 14; transferred from United States of America to Portugal in 2001
Items: 14

M109A5; items: 14; transferred from United States of America to Portugal in 2000
Items: 14

Next >>

News
BAE Systems and US Army Agree on Partnership for M109 Family of Vehicles

FMS: Morocco Requests M109A5 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers

BAE Systems Successfully Completes Initial Testing on PGK

FMS: Pakistan Seeks M109A5 Howitzers

FMS: Egypt Eyes on M109A5 Self-Propelled Howitzer

United Defense Unveils the FCS Non-Line-Of-Sight Cannon

Expanded Excalibur Contract

Operators

see operators map

Austria

As of	Holdings
2006	188

Bahrain

Belgium

As of	Holdings
2007	63 (M109)
2006	104 (M109)

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Denmark

As of	Holdings
2006	76

Egypt

Germany

As of	Holdings
2007	511
2006	515

Greece

As of	Holdings
2006	195

Israel

Italy

Kuwait

As of	Holdings
2005	23

Netherlands

As of	Holdings
2007	126
2006	126

Portugal

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

Spain

Switzerland

Taiwan

Thailand

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States of America

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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