NORA prepares to ship out for shoot-off
NORA B-52 M21 fires in an April 2021 accuracy test. (Photo: Global Ordnance)
Serbian self-propelled howitzer will compete in US Army shoot-off.
The US Army is poised to evaluate the NORA B-52 M21 155mm howitzer, after Serbia-based manufacturer Yugoimport-SDSR and US firm Global Ordnance completed accuracy firing tests before the weapon is shipped out.
NORA will be involved against other types of mobile howitzer in a ‘shoot-off’ evaluation at the Yuma Proving Grounds, to determine which systems best fit US Army requirements.
The self-propelled howitzer was previously ordered by Bangladesh, Cyprus and Serbia, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
In 2018, the US Army announced it was seeking a more mobile, lethal and survivable replacement for its in-service towed M777 howitzers. An RfP followed in July 2020.
‘The best performers may be asked to provide proposals for the production, delivery, fielding, training, and support for use by the United States Army,’ Global Ordnance noted in a 13 April announcement.
The Serbian howitzer will compete against Elbit Systems of America (with ATMOS Iron Sabre), BAE Systems (Archer) and Nexter (Caesar) in the shoot-off.
Interest was also reported (but not confirmed) in late 2020 from South Korea (Hanwha with its K9 Thunder) and Japan (Mitsubishi Type 19 prototype), as well as South Africa (Denel G6 Rhino) and Slovakia (ZTS Dana).
The NORA B-52 M21 being prepared for the US trials has undergone upgrades to its chassis and to the fully automatic loader, to ensure compatibility with US Army propellant charges.
LTC (ret) John Summers, Global Ordnance director of programmes, said after the latest test: ‘It was an impressive system to see with the upgraded chassis and auto loader upgrade. The system performed flawlessly through the accuracy firing test.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Refresh of Romanian army vehicles speeds up]()
Refresh of Romanian army vehicles speeds up
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
-
![Italy begins hunt for Puma replacement]()
Italy begins hunt for Puma replacement
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
-
![Orders roll in for VAMTAC tactical vehicles as first is delivered to New Zealand]()
Orders roll in for VAMTAC tactical vehicles as first is delivered to New Zealand
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.
-
![CV90 user group signs agreement to improve procurement and commonality]()
CV90 user group signs agreement to improve procurement and commonality
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
