BAE Systems awarded M109A7 extended range work
BAE Systems is to carry out work to increase the range and rate of fire on current and future M109A7 self-propelled howitzers under a contract from the US Army announced on 15 July.
Under the $45 million Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) Increment 1 prototype contract, the army is looking to address capability gaps in its indirect fire systems and improve the rate and range of fire with the development of power distribution software and hardware integration solutions. ERCA will be integrated onto the M109A7 and will require the M109A7’s current 39-caliber turret to be replaced with a 58-caliber, 30ft long gun barrel with the objective of creating firepower double the current range.
While increasing range, the goal is to maintain the weight found in current systems to minimise performance impacts on the chassis.
Scott Davis, vice president or programs, BAE Systems’ Combat Vehicles business, said: ‘ERCA is a significant technological step forward for the army’s artillery portfolio.
'We were selected based on our years of experience in the development of self-propelled howitzer systems. Long-range precision fire is a top priority for the army, and we are pleased to be a partner in efforts to equip soldiers with the latest technology.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer]()
DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer
Thales launched Storm-H in 2012 as an EW system equipping individual dismounted troops, and a decade later revealed details to develop the improved and more powerful Storm 2.
-
![The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating]()
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
-
![Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system]()
Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system
The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.
