developed the G6 SP howitzer, based on a purpose-designed 6x6 chassis. Its turret is armed with the same 155/45 mm ordnance as the towed G5. Acquired by the South African Army and exported to Oman and the UAE, the original G6 was manually loaded. Its crew included four artillerymen and one driver. In 2003 Denel Land Systems launched the G652, with a 52-calibre gun, which carried a smaller amount of rounds (40 versus 50), but contained in two carousels in the turret rear, one with projectiles and one with charges ensuring the autoloader a six-round-perminute firing rate, and cutting crew size to three in the process. The G6-52 is fitted with an INS/GPS navigation system and with the AS2000 advanced artillery target engagement system, allowing the gun to shoot within 60 seconds from receiving the fire mission. The turret was installed on an upgraded version of the original G6 chassis, but can be installed on other chassis, mostly tracked. The G6-52, also known as Renoster, has not yet scored any export orders. How much New Dehli’s lift of ban on Denel will allow it to return to the fight is anybody’s guess. The system in the T6 turret configuration might also be used to generate a tracked SP howitzer based on a national chassis base (the Arjun-based Bhin proposed years ago). In the mid-1990s studies were launched to develop the Bofors FH77 B05 52 into a wheeled self-propelled howitzer, the Archer. A modified Volvo A30E 6x6 rugged articulated vehicle was chosen to ensure maximum mobility in snow-covered northern European countries. Key features included full system automation (the Archer is operated by a crew of three from inside the protected cabin), multiple-round simultaneous impact of up to six rounds, quick reaction time for a call-forfire while on the move (less than 30 seconds),
The G6/45 in service with the United Arab Emirates; the 52 calibre version is in advanced prototype stage and is currently awaiting a launch customer. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
Although Norway decided to drop out of the programme, BAE Systems still has a contract for 48 systems signed with the Swedish FMV which was the contracting authority. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
and protection against ballistic and mine threats. Air-transportable by A400M, its range is of 40 km with conventional ammunition and over 50 km with guided projectiles such as the Excalibur. In 2007 Norway joined Sweden in the programme, the system being officially known as the FH 77 BW L52. The first of 24 Archers ordered in 2010 was delivered to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in late September 2013, but three months later Norway, who had signed an order for 24, decided to pull out of the programme. The decision was based on undisclosed failures to meet Norwegian requirements. This led to the signature of an amended contract between the FMV and BAE Systems Bofors to modify delivery schedules solely for Sweden. The last deliveries are now planned for early 2016. No details about possible cancellation penalties have been divulged to date. The Archer is a possible contender for the Danish M109 replacement programme. Leveraging experience gained with the PzH 2000 gun and its Unterlüß-made barrel,
Rheinmetall developed an autonomous turret armed with the same 155/52 mm gun capable of ranges of 42 km with improved ERFB basebleed projectiles and over 52 km with rocketassisted V-LAPs. The automatic loading system affords a rate of fire of six rounds per minute, or 75 rounds per hour of sustained fire. Up to five rounds can be fired in multiple round simultaneous impact mode. Using a specialised re-supply vehicle the 40 rounds and charges can loaded in five minutes. With its ring laser gyro with GPS, and a fully automatic laying system, command and control being provided by the AS4000 Artillery Target Engagement System, it can fire a first round within 60 seconds from halt, and require only 30 seconds to get out of action. Rheinmetall declares CEP of 0.6% of range in the lower trajectory. The turret was clearly developed with the Indian artillery contract in mind, and to that end it was installed on a South African G6 chassis, giving birth to the RGW52 (for Rheinmetall Wheeled Gun), but like other companies Rheinmetall was blacklisted by India. Currently the programme is stalled, but Rheinmetall is ready to restart it should a customer show some interest. Being autonomous, the turret can easily be installed on wheeled or tracked chassis. Initiated thanks to two research programmes partly financed by the Italian MoD, the development of the Oto Melara Centauro 155/39 LW is currently on hold, due to the scarce financial resources of the Italian Army. Unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, the system is based on a turret armed with a lightweight 155/39 mm ordnance mounted on a Centauro 8x8 chassis, although a serial system would be installed on the Centauro 2 chassis. The barrel length was chosen in relation with the fact that the gun would essentially use the Vulcano ammunition (q.V.) that will maintain a range of some 55 km with the guided ammo type. A fully automated loading solution was adopted, 15
Using the Enigma developed by Emirates Defence Technology as the base vehicle, BAE has studied a peculiar solution to allow an easy integration of its M777 ultralight 155/39 mm howitzer with that 8x8. These model show the gun in travel and firing position. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
Compendium Artillery 2015
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