M109A6 Paladin

   The M109A6 Paladin is a further upgrade of the M109 self-propelled howitzer, which was introduced in early 1960s. This M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer entered service with the US Army in 1991. Production ceased in 1999. A total of 950 artillery systems were built for the US Army. Export operators are Israel and Taiwan. With the cancellation of Crusader and NLOS-C programmes the US Army will continue to rely on the M109A6 Paladin artillery system, until it will be upgraded to the M109A7 standard.

   The M109A6 has a larger turret than its predecessor. It is armed with the M284 155 mm/L39 howitzer, fitted with a semi-automatic loading system. Maximum range of fire is 24 km with standard projectiles and 30 km with rocket-assisted projectiles. Maximum rate of fire is 4 rounds per minute. Sustained rate is one round every three minutes.

   Some of the US Army M109A6 Paladins were fitted with modification kits to fire M982 Excalibur extended-range precision guided projectiles. The Excalibur is GPS-guided and has a maximum range of 40 km.

   The Paladin can stop and fire the first round in under 60 seconds. Brief redeployment time allows to avoid counter-battery fire and gives shoot-and-scoot capability.

   Secondary armament consists of a roof-mounted 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Some vehicles were fitted with 40 mm automatic grenade launcher in place of machine gun.

   The M109A6 is fitted with an automatic fire control system with an integrated navigation and inertial positioning system. It is also fitted with a muzzle reference system.

   Armor of the M109A6 Paladin provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection system. Turret is fitted with Kevlar anti-spall lining.

   Vehicle is powered by the Detroit Diesel 8V71T diesel engine, developing 440 hp. Some Paladins will be upgraded with a Cummins 600 hp diesel engine.

   The M109A6 Paladin is supported by the M992 ammunition supply vehicle. It can carry a maximum of 93 rounds and transfer them to the self-propelled howitzer via conveyer.

Variants

   M109A7 is the latest upgrade of the Paladin. Formerly this system was known as the M109A6 PIM (Paladin Integrated Management). The first prototype was unveiled in 2007. Upgraded artillery systems have a new automated loader and some components of the canceled Crusader and NLOS-C. The US Army plans to operate a fleet of 580 M109A7 howitzers and the same number of associated armored ammunition support vehicles. Low-rate production deliveries began in 2015. Full-rate production contract was signed in 2017 for a first batch of 48 artillery systems. Deliveries of these production systems to the US Army began in 2018.