The importance of artillery on the modern battlefield cannot be overstated, with Stalin referring to it as the ‘God of War’. Despite this, the US Army has struggled to develop a new howitzer, with repeated failures in attempts to acquire new heavy artillery over the past few decades. The latest setback came in the form of the Extended-Range Cannon Artillery, a new model of the existing M-109 tracked howitzer with a super-long barrel, which was not successful enough to go into production. This leaves the Army without a replacement for its aging M-109s, which have been in service since 1963.
American artillery gunners are in a familiar but uncomfortable position as they witness Russian and Ukrainian howitzers in action during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These howitzers have been inflicting heavy casualties in the war, highlighting the importance of having effective artillery capabilities. The Army’s previous attempts to replace the M-109, such as the Crusader and the Future Combat Systems, were unsuccessful and ultimately cancelled, leaving the service without a new howitzer design.
The most recent effort to upgrade the M-109 with a longer barrel to increase range also faced challenges, as the longer gun proved to be more fragile than anticipated. This setback underscores the Army’s struggle to stay on the cutting edge of artillery technology and maintain a competitive advantage over other countries. As a result, the Army may need to consider importing newer and more advanced artillery systems from foreign manufacturers, such as Swedish firm Bofors or South Korean firm Hanwha.
Despite the difficulties with developing a new howitzer, the US Army does have other effective artillery systems in its arsenal, such as the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). HIMARS is widely regarded as one of the best artillery systems in the world, capable of launching precision missiles up to 57 miles away. However, a mix of both howitzers and rockets is necessary for a well-rounded artillery capability, with the former providing close and fast firepower while the latter offers greater range and precision.
In light of the Army’s ongoing struggles with developing a new howitzer, it is crucial for them to reevaluate their approach and consider alternative solutions to ensure that they maintain a strong artillery capability. While the prospect of importing artillery from foreign manufacturers may be embarrassing for the US Army, it could be a necessary step to modernize and re-equip American artillery batteries. The Army must prioritize finding a solution to this challenge to avoid falling behind other countries in terms of artillery technology and capabilities.
