New Self-Propelled Gun for the IDF

[DavidSling]

Last week, the IDF General Staff decided to acquire a new self-propelled gun (SPG). This is one of the major projects of the IDF Ground Arm's procurement program for the coming years

IsraelDefense | 18/09/2016

The 'Doher' SPG (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5498540)

The need for a new self-propelled gun (SPG) arose in the IDF Ground Forces Command years ago, but the decision itself was long delayed, due to budgetary constraints. The need stems from the fact that the current SPG layout, named "Doher" (Hebrew for 'rider'), is based on guns that were delivered to the IDF after the Yom Kippur War (1973). The maintenance costs of the old SPGs are very high, and each gun requires no fewer than ten staff members. Also, their range is limited to 20-27 km.

The IDF Artillery Corps has defined the characteristics of the new SPG so that the number of crewmembers will be only four, the range will be increased to 40 km, and the rate of fire will be improved significantly. Two major companies are expected to compete in the tender for the new SPG, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Elbit has already won the preliminary tender for the production of a demonstrator of the new gun.

The new SPG that Elbit will offer the IDF will be based on the ATMOS howitzer, which was also presented at the International Fire Conference and Exhibition (May 17-18, 2016), organized by Israel Defense and the Israeli Artillery Association.

Elbit System's ATMOS is a 155mm/52 caliber truck-mounted Howitzer. It offers enhanced mobility and integrates a relatively inexpensive platform with advanced computerized weapons system. The ATMOS system is modular and can be mounted on various types of trucks, which allows great flexibility. The truck can also be mounted with all the necessary equipment, including fire control system and a system to generate the electricity needed to operate all auxiliary systems.

The ATMOS has a tactical computer, inertial navigation system (INS), a radar system for testing cannon's muzzle velocity and Day/Night optical systems to detect targets independently. The system was tested by the IDF, but for now, it seems that their priority is a self-propelled gun, which can be mounted on Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) with undercarriage, preferably Bradley type, which can be bought from the Americans.

IAI, however, offers the IDF Ground Forces a new version of the German KMW's SPG, which will be produced on US soil, in US Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

The 155 mm SPG offered by KMW is called Artillery Gun Module (AGM) and is supposed to be manned by 4-5 fighters. The fire rate of the German Howitzer is high, it has a 52 caliber, and its range is over 40 km.

http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/new-self-propelled-gun-idf

@Penguin @500 @Natan @Archdemon @GBU-28 @F-15I @mike2000 is back @Blue Marlin @Mountain Jew

 

[mike2000 is back]

Last week, the IDF General Staff decided to acquire a new self-propelled gun (SPG). This is one of the major projects of the IDF Ground Arm's procurement program for the coming years

IsraelDefense | 18/09/2016

The 'Doher' SPG (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5498540)

The need for a new self-propelled gun (SPG) arose in the IDF Ground Forces Command years ago, but the decision itself was long delayed, due to budgetary constraints. The need stems from the fact that the current SPG layout, named "Doher" (Hebrew for 'rider'), is based on guns that were delivered to the IDF after the Yom Kippur War (1973). The maintenance costs of the old SPGs are very high, and each gun requires no fewer than ten staff members. Also, their range is limited to 20-27 km.

The IDF Artillery Corps has defined the characteristics of the new SPG so that the number of crewmembers will be only four, the range will be increased to 40 km, and the rate of fire will be improved significantly. Two major companies are expected to compete in the tender for the new SPG, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Elbit has already won the preliminary tender for the production of a demonstrator of the new gun.

The new SPG that Elbit will offer the IDF will be based on the ATMOS howitzer, which was also presented at the International Fire Conference and Exhibition (May 17-18, 2016), organized by Israel Defense and the Israeli Artillery Association.

Elbit System's ATMOS is a 155mm/52 caliber truck-mounted Howitzer. It offers enhanced mobility and integrates a relatively inexpensive platform with advanced computerized weapons system. The ATMOS system is modular and can be mounted on various types of trucks, which allows great flexibility. The truck can also be mounted with all the necessary equipment, including fire control system and a system to generate the electricity needed to operate all auxiliary systems.

The ATMOS has a tactical computer, inertial navigation system (INS), a radar system for testing cannon's muzzle velocity and Day/Night optical systems to detect targets independently. The system was tested by the IDF, but for now, it seems that their priority is a self-propelled gun, which can be mounted on Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) with undercarriage, preferably Bradley type, which can be bought from the Americans.

IAI, however, offers the IDF Ground Forces a new version of the German KMW's SPG, which will be produced on US soil, in US Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

The 155 mm SPG offered by KMW is called Artillery Gun Module (AGM) and is supposed to be manned by 4-5 fighters. The fire rate of the German Howitzer is high, it has a 52 caliber, and its range is over 40 km.

http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/new-self-propelled-gun-idf

@Penguin @500 @Natan @Archdemon @GBU-28 @F-15I @mike2000 is back @Blue Marlin @Mountain Jew

How many of these self propelled gun is Israel defence forces Looking to acquire?

 

[Natan]

How many of these self propelled gun is Israel defence forces Looking to acquire?

Hundreds.
IDF is looking to replace the entire fleet of M109's, for regular and reserve forces. So probably not with 1:1 ratio, but still - hundreds of howitzers over over 5-10 years.

 

[Penguin]

KMW's Artillery gun module (AGM)

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann's Artillery Gun Module (AGM) is an air-transportable, medium-weight, turreted self-propelled howitzer based on the proven technology of the PzH 2000 SP howitzer in service with the German Army. The system is fully autonomous and provides the same performance as the PzH 2000, but with reduced cost, crew levels and weight.

The module can be fitted on a heavy 6x6 or 8x8 chassis, a tracked load carrier hull or a main battle tank hull. Applications thusfar include:

6x6 truck

ARTEC Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV)

MLRS chassis (M2/3 Bradley based)

ASCOD Mk2 IFV based load carrier

Leopard 2 chassis

 

[Ind4Ever]

KMW's Artillery gun module (AGM)

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann's Artillery Gun Module (AGM) is an air-transportable, medium-weight, turreted self-propelled howitzer based on the proven technology of the PzH 2000 SP howitzer in service with the German Army. The system is fully autonomous and provides the same performance as the PzH 2000, but with reduced cost, crew levels and weight.

The module can be fitted on a heavy 6x6 or 8x8 chassis, a tracked load carrier hull or a main battle tank hull. Applications thusfar include:

6x6 truck

ARTEC Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV)

MLRS chassis (M2/3 Bradley based)

ASCOD Mk2 IFV based load carrier

Leopard 2 chassis

Bloody genius... One module

Range?

 

[Penguin]

Bloody genius... One module

Range?

The ordnance is the same as PzH-2000. The maximum range of that gun is 30 km with the standard L15A2 round (a UK design for FH-70 and stockpiled by Germany for M109G and FH70), about 35-40 km with base bleed rounds, and at least 40 km with rocket assisted projectiles. In April 2006 a PzH 2000 shot assisted shells (Denel V-Lap) over a distance of 56 km with a probable maximum range of over 60 km. The gun can also fire the SMArt 155 artillery round, which is used by Germany and Greece. In December 2013, Raytheon and the German Army completed compatibility testing for the M982 Excalibur extended range guided artillery shell with the PzH2000. 10 Excaliburs were fired at ranges from 9 to 48 kilometers. Shells hit within three meters of their targets, with an average miss distance of one meter at 48 km.

The system is operated by a crew of two. The AGM uses the main gun components from the PzH 2000 – the barrel and elevating mass, the shell loader and flick rammer. The system also has a separate dedicated auxiliary power unit. The turret is of lightweight aluminium armour construction. The 12.5t turret carries 30 projectiles and charges. The autoloader is based on a modified PzH 2000 shell loader and an automatic charge loader. The charge loader will automatically compose the selected charges using any Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU) compliant charge module. The autoloader is powered by a 24V electrical supply. A lifting system is installed at the front of the turret allowing the crew to reload the magazine from outside the vehicle. The ammunition feed has an automatic inductive fuse setting system. The pneumatically operated flick rammer rams the shells into the breech with elevation angle-dependent ramming pressure control. The AGM can fire against stationary and moving targets at a rate of six to eight rounds a minute including Multiple-Round Simultaneous-Impact (MRSI) firing.The into-action and out-of-action times for the AGM are similar to those of the PzH 2000 – approximately 30 seconds. The system receives target data via a radio link either while it is on the move or in a defilade position. The laying and loading data is computed and the firing command is executed. Immediately after firing the last round, the vehicle leaves the firing position in a shoot-and-scoot manoeuvre to avoid counter battery fire.

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/artillery/
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product4206.html
http://www.armyrecognition.com/germ...rtillery_gun_module_technical_data_sheet.html
http://tanknutdave.com/the-donar-self-propelled-gun/
http://www.kmweg.com/home/artillery/autonomous-howitzer/agm/product-information.html