US Army plots path ahead for new mobile 155 mm howitzer prototype

BAE Systems' Archer mobile howitzer competed in a US Army shoot-off in 2021. The service is now eyeing a prototype development programme. (BAE Systems)

The US Army is taking the next step towards developing a new wheeled 155 mm howitzer and is asking companies to participate in a multi-year assessment that could lead to the design of a new weapon system.

In early January the service posted two separate request for information documents related to the howitzer effort – one for a truck and the other for an armament capability. Neither document details a straightforward development or acquisition plan, however, each notes that the service may be interested in developing a new howitzer prototype instead of acquiring one that has already been fielded.

“This request for information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes, as a means for the government to conduct market research, identifying interested parties and their capability to support the government's interest in exploring next-generation howitzer technologies,” the army wrote in both 7 January documents. “The next-generation howitzer is intended to be a more mobile and survivable 155 mm system with a greater firing range and greater volume of fire than current howitzer systems.”

Service officials said they are interested in pursuing an Other Transaction Agreement path for the design and prototype of a next-generation howitzer vehicle subsystem that will be integrated with a government-provided 155 mm next-generation howitzer armament subsystem.