Lightweight 155mm Howitzer (LW 155)

ACAT: II

Prime: BAE Systems (United Kingdom and Hattiesburg, MS).

Current Status: LW 155 is a Joint USMC /Army Program in Full-Rate Production (FRP). The Marine Corps began fielding the first of 405 new howitzers to the operating forces in April 2005 and expects to complete fielding in calendar year 2010.

The Approved Acquisition Objective (AAO)= 511 units for the Marine Corps and 366 for the Army. The M777 is also in-service with Canada in Afghanistan.

Q. What is LW 155?

A. The Lightweight 155mm Howitzer (M777) is the general support artillery for the Army's light forces. The automatic primer feeding mechanism, loader-assist, digital fire control, and other improvements enhance reliability and give light artillery a semi-autonomous capability found only in self-propelled howitzers.

Q. What will LW 155 do for the Warfighter?

A. The LW 155 (M777's) lighter weight, smaller footprint, and lower profile increase strategic deployability, tactical mobility, and survivability. The use of titanium in its (LW 155) major structures makes it 7,000 pounds lighter than its predecessor (the M198) with no sacrifice in range, stability, accuracy, or durability. Two M777s can be transported by a C-130, and it can be dropped by parachute.

Q. What are LW 155's capabilities?

A. The LW 155 (M777) is jointly managed, with the Marine Corps having led the development of the howitzer and the Army having led the development of Towed Artillery Digitization (TAD), the digital fire control system for the M777. The digital fire control-equipped howitzer is designated the M777A1. Software updates and the Platform Integration Kit (PIK) hardware gives the M777A2 the capability to fire the Excalibur precision guided munition. The specifications of the Excalibur-compatible LW 155 (M777) howitzer are:

• Weight: 10,000 pounds orlighter with TAD
• Emplace: Less than three minutes
• Displace: Two to three minutes
• Maximum range: 30 km(assisted)
• Rate-of-fire: Four to eight rounds per minute maximum; two rounds per minute sustained
• Ground mobility: Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, five-ton trucks
• Air mobility: Two per C-130; six per C-17; 12 per C-5; CH-53D/E; CH-47D; MV-22
• 155mm compatibility: all fielded and developing NATO munitions
• Digital fire control: self-locating and pointing; digital and voice communications; self-contained power supply.

For more information on LW 155 or other PEO Land Systems Marine Corps programs, please contact Mr. David M. Branham, PEO LS Public Affairs at (703) 432-4966, or by Email at David.Branham@usmc.mil.

Last Updated: 5/4/2009