Rheinmetall to develop light artillery cannon for US Army
American Rheinmetall Munition aims to support future US lightweight howitzer and other armament technologies. (Photo: US Army/1st Lt Stephanie Snyder)
The US Army has awarded a $2.5 million contract for American Rheinmetall Munition to develop and deliver a shorter and more lightweight artillery weapon system.
Parent company Rheinmetall said the lightweight artillery cannon would enhance the mobility, manoeuvrability and lethality of US Army artillery systems.
The company believes the new cannon will meet the long-range firing performance capability sought by the US.
The effort will support the US National Defense Strategy published in March and will also serve as an information collecting exercise for the US Army’s ongoing capability assessment for a next-generation armament.
‘We are proud to have the opportunity to support the Army in its efforts to develop next-generation long-range precision fires technologies and particularly to prototype what could be game-changing advanced, lightweight howitzer technologies,’ American Rheinmetall Munition CEO John Somich noted in a statement.
This year the DoD announced contract modifications twice for the production and delivery of M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 tracked carrier ammunition vehicles.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
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
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
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.
-
In depth: Competition for British Army vehicle programme heats up, despite more delays
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) seems set to be delayed once again but industry is jockeying for position to partner in what would be one of the biggest ever buys for the British Army.
-
DSEI 2025: AM General has partner lined up for British Army vehicle programme
AM General’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 is in low-rate initial production and the company is looking for export orders, notably the UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP), to add to a recent approval for Canada to buy vehicles.
-
DSEI 2025: IDV sets eyes on British Army vehicle deal as MD calls for “acceleration” of efforts
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) to replace thousands of vehicles is in flux as the tender for the Light Mobility Vehicle segment planned for November is set to be missed. IDV Robotics’ Dr Geoff Davis is calling for the UK government to focus broadly on indigenous capability for procurement and to do it faster.