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Italy delivering surplus self-propelled howitzers to Pakistan Army

IA we will get all of them
Hopefully, they are remarkable guns.
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No further news in acquiring the next batch of surplus guns from Italy?
 
Given COVID and present crisis, isn't it time to push this deal through? Just shoot the fellows wanting kickbacks, what's wrong with them.
 
They'll likely be placed in storage (42 already are and just 14 are in active service), but Norway has 56 M109A3GNs that are being replaced by the South Korean K9, the first of which has already been delivered.

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Like with its surplus F-16s, being phased out in favor of the F-35 (25 of which are now in service with the RNoAF), they might be worth looking into. These aren't especially new guns, having been acquired from West Germany between 1969-1971 and undergoing several rounds of upgrades in the 1980s and mid-2000s, but as augments to what Pakistan already has or as spare parts they could be attractive if the terms are right.

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I doubt Norway would want much for nearly 60 year old guns
 
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Is it comparable to K9 Vajra?

No. Take it from someone who was present during K9 trials in Norway - the K9 vastly out performs the M109 (the company I worked for at the time does a lot of work on the electronics featured on Norwegian and allied armor). Italy's former M109Ls are older A2/A3 models, just with Italian guns and with several upgrades, but are largely the same as when they first entered service in the 60s.

Of the surplus M109s Norway's M109A3GNs are the most advanced, on part with the M109A4/5. Newer variants like the M109 "KAWEST", offered by the Swiss company RUAG and having taken part in Norway's M109 replacement trials, is a fine gun. The K9 still outperforms it, but it's an A6 equivalent.

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The Swiss KAWEST rated very highly among Norway's artillerists. The K9 just performed better.
 

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