The Army’s Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization (SPH-M) Program
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September 23, 2024
The Army’s Next Generation Howitzer (NGH) Program
Background
The Army’s current self-propelled artillery system, the M - 109 Paladin, first entered service in the 1960s and has been upgraded numerous times. The Army has two types of artillery: self-propelled, a howitzer mounted on a tracked or wheeled vehicle, or towed, a howitzer towed by a vehicle and then dismounted to fire. In 1994, the Army began to develop the Crusader, an advanced self-propelled 155- millimeter (mm) howitzer and an accompanying resupply vehicle. The Crusader was canceled in May 2002 when then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated that future enemy threats did not require the Crusader and that DOD wanted instead to invest in other emergent technologies. The Army’s second attempt to develop a new self-propelled artillery system, the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C), was to be developed as part of the Army’s Future Combat System (FCS) program, which started in 1999 and was cancelled in 2009 when then- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates restructured the program and cancelled its associated vehicles. The third attempt for a new system was the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. ERCA Prototype
Source: U.S. Army, “ERCA Autoloader is being tested for first time at YUMA Proving Ground,” August 15, 2019.
The ERCA program started in 2018 and reportedly was intended to
extend the range of artillery fire from 30 kilometers to 70 kilometers (43.5 miles). This would have given the Army a significant advantage on the battlefield. Unfortunately, the new design, which featured a 30-foot gun tube mounted on a Paladin M109 chassis, experienced problems during live- fire testing. These issues prevented the ERCA from reaching its projected range and forced the Army to abandon the project.
Reportedly, the major testing issue was excessive wear on the gun tube after firing a relatively low number of rounds. The Army discontinued the ERCA program in April 2024.
The Army’s Next Generation Howitzer (NGH) Program
The Army’s Next Generation Howitzer (NGH) program will be the Army’s fourth attempt to develop a new self- propelled howitzer with extended firing range. In the aftermath of the ERCA cancellation, the Army initiated a new conventional fires study in 2023 to determine the way ahead for artillery modernization. The study was completed in March 2024 and reportedly determined “the service should focus on more autonomous artillery systems with greater range and improved mobility.”
NGH Program Requirements
According to Army FY2025 budget documents,
The NGH will provide highly mobile, survivable, versatile, transportable, longer range fire support under a broad set of challenging operational conditions against current and emerging, small to large scale threats through 2040 and beyond. NGH reduces emplacement and displacement times, provides increased crew survivability and better cross-country mobility, adds overall effectiveness, and affords improved fire support capability for field artillery formations well beyond what towed howitzer systems can provide.
NGH Program Activities
The Army reportedly conducted a number of successful tests with the ERCA before cancelling the program; those past testing activities are to inform the NGH program. For example, in 2022, ERCA hit a target at 70 kilometers (43 miles) with an M-982 Excalibur extended-range guided artillery shell. Army officials indicated the NGH program will also involve the further development of extended-range artillery ammunition.
On August 28, 2024, the Army issued a request for information (RFI) to industry to
identify and preliminarily review the maturity of potentially offered self-propelled howitzer systems. The U.S. Government (USG) is interested in systems that have high maturity and minimize or eliminate development time. Additionally, the USG is interested in understanding the possible future modernization options for those systems. Any information received in response to this survey will be used by the USG to assess the viability of potential future acquisition strategies. When
The Army’s Next Generation Howitzer (NGH) Program
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responding, the USG encourages industry to present both mature systems that are in service as well as systems that could be in service by 2026, absent any USG investment.
The Army’s RFI suggests the Army is interested only in artillery systems that are currently in service or close to being fielded in the next two years. This also includes foreign artillery systems; the Army reportedly already evaluated a number of foreign-developed artillery systems as potential replacements for the towed M-777 155 mm howitzer during a September 2021 shoot-off. Responses to the RFI for a Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery System are due to the Army by September 27, 2024. If the Army sees acquisition potential from RFI responses, it could then issue a request for proposal (RFP) and begin a formal acquisition process.
FY2025 NGH Budgetary Information
The Army is requesting $8 million in NGH Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funding in FY2025 for trade studies analysis and cannon system development. The Army’s NGH acquisition strategy “is to evaluate existing industry prototypes and fielded systems and assess capability of mobility and survivability attributes, utilizing U.S. ammunition capability.” FY2025 program activities will include “safety testing, U.S. ammunition compatibility testing, and assessment of mobility, survivability and transportability.”
Congressional Activity
Some Members of Congress are concerned about the Army’s fourth attempt to develop a new self-propelled howitzer. S.Rept. 118-188 to accompany S. 4638, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, notes, on page 29,
Though the Army cancelled its Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program, a recently conducted tactical fires study validated the capability gap that the ERCA sought to fill. Observations from Ukraine reinforce the critical role of mobile cannon artillery. The extensive employment of unmanned aerial systems and near ubiquitous sensing only increase the risks to the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) on the modern battlefield. The committee is interested in how the Army is seeking to rapidly identify and field improved cannon artillery to these formations. The committee supports Army efforts to achieve requirements by identifying currently available capabilities or rapidly improving our own systems. Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than March 31, 2025, on its long-range cannon modernization effort. The briefing should include:
(1) An assessment of how current ABCTs and SBCTs long-range cannon fires capabilities would perform in a scenario such as Ukraine;
(2) A description of what new vehicles or programs are being considered to fill the stated requirement; and
(3) A comparison of cost to modernize through employment of, or modification to, existing platforms versus the cost to a new start program. A new start program estimate should consider total costs, including developmental, acquisition,
sustainment, and operational costs.
Potential Issues for Congress
Congress may consider the following issues:
Is NGH the Army’s Final Option to Replace the M- 109 Paladin? The Army’s two previous attempts to develop a completely new system to replace the Paladin—the Crusader and NLOS-C—ended in cancellation. The third attempt—the ERCA—was not focused on a new design, but instead on modifying the M-109 and developing new artillery munitions. That program also proved unsuccessful and was cancelled in 2024. The August 2024 Self-Propelled Howitzer RFI focuses on domestic and foreign artillery systems that are currently in service or close to being fielded. This could be viewed as the Army’s “last chance” to replace the M-109 Paladin short of initiating a new original design effort. Given the Army’s history in developing new self-propelled howitzer systems, Congress may consider whether this compels the Army to choose an artillery system already on the market to replace the M-109. Congress might examine the Army’s plans for next steps if responses to the RFI are inadequate and do not meet the Army’s requirements for a M-109 replacement.
Potential Total Program Cost of NGH and Ammunition If the Army identifies potential candidate systems to replace the M-109 during the NGH RFI process, it should be possible for the Army to establish a preliminary estimated total program cost. In concert with this, the Army could identify any related artillery munitions developmental efforts and develop a preliminary cost estimate. Since the NGH program is focused on systems already in use or close to being fielded, it is reasonable to assume that the NGH program would be less expensive than an original design program such as the Crusader. The early establishment of a preliminary estimated total program cost for NGH and associated ammunition could greatly facilitate congressional oversight and consideration of whether the estimated cost is appropriate for the capabilities being acquired.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF12772
The Army’s Next Generation Howitzer (NGH) Program
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12772 · VERSION 1 · NEW
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