US Army clears M777A2 Howitzer to fire Excalibur

The A2 version of BAE Systems' M777 Lightweight 155 mm towed howitzer was awarded Full Material Release by the US Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command in July.

The M777A2 incorporates a software update enabling it to programme and fire the Raytheon M982 Excalibur GPS/INS-guided projectile, substantially increasing the howitzer's range and accuracy.

The US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) have so far ordered a total of 591 M777s, of which approximately 250 have been completed. The majority have been M777A1 models fitted with the General Dynamics TAD (Towed Artillery Digitisation) fire-control system, but these were preceded by 96 baseline M777s delivered to the USMC with conventional optical sights as part of low-rate initial production.

The M777A2 version of the howitzer will be the version issued to all US Army and USMC units. Those army units currently operating the M777A1 will receive a software upgrade to bring their TAD systems to A2 standard, as will the USMC M777s.

The USMC 10th and 11th Marine Regiments have already received the M777A2 version. The US Army's 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is currently undergoing initial fielding of the M777A2 and the 2nd Battalion 11th Field Artillery Regiment based in Hawaii, having been equipped with the M777A1 version in January 2007, should be converted later this year prior to deployment to Afghanistan.