Army Seeks Tracked Howitzer After Wheeled Award

The US Army is seeking candidates for a new tracked howitzer, issuing a request for information just two weeks after awarding a contract for wheeled howitzer prototypes. According to a solicitation posted by the Program Acquisition Executive for Fires, the service wants a tracked self-propelled 155mm howitzer for use within armored formations.

This RFI is described as a new and distinctly separate effort from the Mobile Howitzer Capability-Wheeled program. The Army is asking vendors about production lead times for a tracked howitzer and a coinciding resupply vehicle, maximum production capacity, and plans for onshoring US production if facilities are abroad.

Operational Requirements and Industry Response

A spokesperson from PAE Fires told Breaking Defense the Army is pursuing both a wheeled and a tracked variant because they address different operational needs. The wheeled variant is intended for formations with towed artillery, providing mobility, survivability, and responsiveness. The tracked variant is aimed at finding capabilities to accompany armored formations.

Responses to the RFI are due by September 11. The Army plans to hold an industry day for interested vendors next week. The solicitation also states the government is seeking sufficient technical data rights for any proposed system.

Testing and Specifications

The request calls for interested parties to provide a tracked howitzer, a resupply vehicle, and ground support personnel. This equipment would support demonstrative and safety testing events using American ammunition. Past solicitations for the howitzer modernization program did not ask specifically for one variant. Instead, they requested a howitzer as heavily armored as the currently fielded M109A7, while also providing increased mobility and transportability.

Traditionally, wheeled vehicles are lighter and built more for roads. Tracked vehicles are associated with heavier chassis that can maneuver more easily in muddy or rough terrain.

Background and Modernization Drive

Monday's RFI follows the Army's award to Hanwha Defense USA. That deal, worth up to $233 million, is for delivering K9 wheeled howitzer prototypes. The Army's new howitzers are set to replace two aging systems: the towed M777 howitzers and the self-propelled M109A7s. The M109A7 platform was originally fielded in the 1960s.

The RFI states, "This RFI must be recognized as a new and distinctly separate effort from the MTC-W effort." The service's fires acquisition shop is now actively seeking a tracked variant to meet the specific demands of armored units.