Soltam ATMOS
KMW AGM
Posted on 07/17/2011 8:58:16 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
IDF to replace outdated howitzers after decades of service
By YAAKOV KATZ
17/07/2011
American M109 howitzers have undergone a series of upgrades since they debuted in the Yom Kippur War.
The IDF is looking to replace its aging M109 155 mm. self-propelled howitzers, after decades of service and participation in a number of wars.
Israel received the American M109 howitzers in the 1970s and they debuted in the Yom Kippur War.
They have since undergone a series of upgrades and today are fitted with air purification systems so crews can continue operating in the event of a chemical or biological attack, and have a range of just under 30 kilometers.
The howitzers are fitted with digital command-and-control systems that link the crews to the rest of the IDF’s ground forces and transmit their location as well as the positions of enemy forces.
The advancement in technology is part of the Artillery Corps’ way of adapting itself to maintain relevance on the modern battlefield.
During the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, for example, the Artillery Corps fired 177,000 shells into Lebanon without having an affect on the rate of rocket attacks against northern Israel.
The decision to buy new cannons for the Artillery Corps is part of a larger plan to upgrade its offensive capabilities that includes the procurement of new precision rocket and missile systems.
The two frontrunners to replace the M109s are Soltam System’s Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer Systems and the Artillery Gun Module, developed by Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.
Both systems are truck-mounted, meaning that they have high mobility and can move between different areas of operations quicker than the M109s.
They also have greater ranges of over 40 km., and possibly most crucial is the smaller crews that they require, down from 6 crew members in the M109 to just two or three.
A senior IDF officer said the smaller crew size would allow the Artillery Corps to transfer soldiers from its battalions to new units within the corps such as the Sky Rider Unit that operates unmanned aerial vehicles for the ground forces.
Soltam ATMOS
KMW AGM
It seems they need a model with 155 mm shell size but lesser range for destroying Gaza
An indicator of incorrect ammo type.
During the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, for example, the Artillery Corps fired 177,000 shells into Lebanon without having an affect on the rate of rocket attacks against northern Israel.That won't be as much of a problem in the next war in Lebanon, because the so-called nation of Lebanon has already been tipped to the fact that Israel will consider everyone in Lebanon a combatant.
He loved artillery, and did work (1960s) with NASA trying to work out a way to shoot satellites into orbit.
The Pentagon declined to purchase his howitzer and shell design, even though the combination had greater range and accuracy.
He got into trouble (1970s) selling his stuff to the then embargoed South Africa, and eventually ended up working for Saddam (1980s).
He was taken out in Brussels, iirc.
Now, they could use him...
M109 self-propelled howitzer of the Egyptian Army
Seems only fair that the U.S. armed both the Egyptians and the Israelies with the same equipment.
South Africa hired him to improve their 155mm artillery and Israel would be wise to adopt the long range guns the South Africans use. These guns are truck mounted and have ranges over 40 km. Bull was contacted by the Iraqis through intermediaries and got hooked when he was told he could build his life's dream — the “super gun.” Word is that the Mossad assassinated him after warning him no less than three times not to pursue the project. The Israelis also leaked word to British customs who seized the last barrel sections that Saddam needed to complete his super gun.
His name was Gerald Vincent Bull March 9, 1928 – March 22, 1990 was a Canadian engineer who developed long-range artillery. He moved from project to project in his quest to economically launch a satellite using a huge artillery piece, to which end he designed the Project Babylon “supergun” for the Iraqi government. Bull was assassinated outside his apartment in Brussels, Belgium. He sold his evil wares to the highest bidder, too bad so sad, Gerald is now taking a very long dirt nap!
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