BAE Systems has received a $216 million contract modification to deliver the latest round of M109A7 howitzers, following an inspection led by the Army secretary last month at the company’s facility in York, Pa., to address welding concerns with the system.
The Pentagon announced the Army’s fourth low-rate initial production order on Sept. 28 for the upgraded self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicles with work expected to be completed in January 2021.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Army to deliver high-quality vehicles that give Soldiers improved performance and upgraded survivability,” Adam Zarfoss, BAE System’s vice president for combat vehicles, said in a statement. “We have made significant investment in our combat vehicle manufacturing facilities and workforce in York, Pa., Elgin, Okla., Anniston, Ala., and Aiken, S.C., including the installation of additional machining centers and automated weld cells that increase capacity and ensure quality.”
Army Secretary Mark Esper told reporters in August he would be visiting BAE Systems’ facility in York in September to inspect ongoing welding issues with the vehicle’s chassis, which had previously held up further production orders.
The successful inspection moves the M109A7 howitzer a step closer to full-rate production, where eventual orders could total $1.7 billion, according to BAE Systems officials.
BAE Systems was awarded the howitzer upgrade contract in December 2017, with the goal of modernizing the Army’s current M109A6 Paladin self-propelled guns to be more survivable with a new chassis structure design (Defense Daily, Dec. 2017). The A7 configuration also allows for the integration of drive-train and suspension components on Bradley fighting vehicles.
The company did not specify how many M109A7 systems were ordered under the latest contract modification or when deliveries will start.