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ArtilleryIn service
SPH Self-propelled howitzer
M109A5 originates in United States. Its cited manufacturer or builder is developed by the ground system division of United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments) and manufactured at the Paladin Production Operation centre at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; BAe Systems Inc..
United StatesTechnical data
M109A5
This modification was also designed for the US Army Reserve, originally planned as an update for all M109A4s under the second phase of the Reserve Component Modified Armament System to bring the range up to the version adopted as M109A6. It was fielded in 1991 in much smaller numbers than originally devised due to the end of the Cold War .
It replaced the 155 mm M185 cannon in an M178 mount with a 39-caliber 155 mm M284 cannon in an M182 mount developed for the M109A3E2 (see below), giving the A5 a maximum range of 22,000 meters with unassisted projectiles and 30,000 meters with rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) rounds. The vehicle can carry 36 complete rounds of ammunition and has a 440 hp engine instead of the standard 405 hp engine.
It replaced the 155 mm M185 cannon in an M178 mount with a 39-caliber 155 mm M284 cannon in an M182 mount developed for the M109A3E2 (see below), giving the A5 a maximum range of 22,000 meters with unassisted projectiles and 30,000 meters with rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) rounds.
It replaced the 155 mm M185 cannon in an M178 mount with a 39-caliber 155 mm M284 cannon in an M182 mount developed for the M109A3E2 (see below), giving the A5 a maximum range of 22,000 meters with unassisted projectiles and 30,000 meters with rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) rounds.
M109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5: empty weight of 52,000 lbs (23.6 metric tons) and combat weight of 55,000 lbs (24.95 metric tons)
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
M109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5: empty weight of 52,000 lbs (23.6 metric tons) and combat weight of 55,000 lbs (24.95 metric tons)
M109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5/A6/A7: hull length of 20.3 ft, length with gun forward of 32 ft
M109A1/A2/A3/A4/A5/A6/A7: hull length of 20.3 ft, length with gun forward of 32 ft
M109A5–A7: HE: 21 km (13 mi) RAP : 30 km (19 mi) Excalibur : 40 km (25 mi)
M109A5–A7: M284 155 mm 39 caliber
M109A5–A6: Detroit Diesel 8V71T 8-cylinder water-cooled supercharged diesel engine 440 hp
M109A5
Self-Propelled Howitzer
155 mm
developed by the ground system division of United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments) and manufactured at the Paladin Production Operation centre at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
1993-Present
5 (chief of section, gunner, assistant gunner, No. 1 cannoneer and driver)
The M108 and M109 shared a common chassis (along with the M113 APC), but the M109 was heavier and had a larger gun. The M108 proved unsuccessful, mainly due to its overly light gun.
INA
INA
This variant has an improved M178 mounting, boresight alignment driver and selected RAM and safety kits, which included a fuel system air purge; driver's instrument panel; bustle/rack; propellant stowage; torsion bar; counter-recoil buffer; and upper recoil cylinder. The designation also applies to retrofitted models.
6.19 m
9.12 m
3.28 m
3.28 m
55,000 lb (24,948 kg)
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1 x General Motors 8V-71T LHR, 9310cc, 2-cycle diesel
V-8 diesel
440 hp
17.96 hp/ton
Allison ATD-XTG 411-4A, 4 forward and 2 reverse gears
354
56
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Not Amphibious
30
60
0.53
1.83
1.07
135 gal (511 liters)
torsion bar, 7 road wheels, front drive, rear idler, no return rollers (all models except PIM). The suspension system has been strengthened and an external NATO power receptacle allows the M109A5 to be electrically powered by the M992 field artillery ammunition support vehicle (FAASV).
The M109A5 offers upgraded components providing greater durability. It has a higher horsepower low heat rejection (LHR) engine and an improved transmission for increased performance.
The elevation/equilibrium cylinder and turret traverse clutch assembly are redesigned to prevent failures.
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Fire-control equipment includes an elbow telescope M118C for direct fire with a magnification of 4x and 10-degree field of view; panoramic telescope M117 for indirect fire and gunner's quadrant M1A1.
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INA
Yes
Yes
It has an all weather ballistic shield mounted over the panoramic telescope; counterbalanced travel lock and provisions for mounting the M140 alignment device.
Maximum 20-mm light alloy aluminum, small-arms and artillery fragment protection
The turret takes up the rear. On top of the turret, there is a small cupola, from which the commander operates. This cupola is also fitted with a 12.7 mm (.50) M2HB heavy machine gun.
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Ventilated face Piece System (VFPS)
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CO2 fire extinguisher system in crew and engine compartments
United States
Producer United States - BAe Systems Inc.
Producer United States - BAe Systems Inc.
Origin United States
Type Self-propelled howitzer
Crew 6 (commander, driver, 2 gunners, 2 loaders)
Weight About 25 t combat load (estimate)
Length 9.18 m overall
Length 9.18 m overall 6.19 m hull
Width 3.15 m
Height 3.27 m including M2HB
Height 3.27 m including M2HB 2.89 m over panoramic sight
Type 155mm M284 L/39 howitzer
Mount M182 mount
Ammunition 34 or 36 rounds
Elevation -3° to +75°, manual and hydraulic
Elevation rate 7°/s
Traverse 360°, manual and hydraulic
Traverse rate 11°/s
Range 22 km with unassisted projectiles
Range 22 km with unassisted projectiles 30 km with rocket assisted projectiles
Type 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun
Mount Pintle mount on turret roof
Ammunition 500 rounds, 100 ready to fire
Traverse Manual traverse and elevation
Stabilizer No
Chassis type Tracked chassis, 7 roadhweels
Layout Drive sprocket front, idler rear
Tread 2.77 m
Track width 0.38 m
Length on ground 3.96 m
Ground pressure 0.83 kg/cm²
Suspension Torsion bar
Engine model Detroit Diesel 8V71T LHR
Engine type Water-cooled supercharged V8 diesel
Power output 440 hp at 2.300 rpm
Transmission Allison XTG-411-4A
Transmission Allison XTG-411-4A 4 forward, 2 reverse
Fuel 511 L
Speed 56 km/h on road
Range 350 km on road
Turn radius Pivot
Power to weight ratio 17.6 hp/t (estimate)
Ground clearance 0.45 m
Wall 0.5 m
Trench 1.8 m
Gradient 60 %
Slope 30 %
Fording 1.1 m unprepared
Fording 1.1 m unprepared Amphibious with preparation and flotation devices
Armor type Aluminum hull and turret
Armor thickness 32 mm hull all around
Armor thickness 32 mm hull all around 32 mm turret all around
NBC system Yes
Smoke system No
Night vision Yes
Fire control M117 panoramic telescope for indirect fire
Fire control M117 panoramic telescope for indirect fire M118C for direct fire, 4x magnification with 10° field of view
Radio Yes
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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ChinaM109 howitzer equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
AustriaReported count for M109 PzHb M109 A5Ö. Country-wide list; no individual service specified. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): quantity: 53. Origin: United States Austria. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
BahrainArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
BrazilArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5; M109A3; M109A5+. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
ChileArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A3; M109A5+. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
DjiboutiArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109L. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
EgyptArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5; M109A2. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
GreeceArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A1B/A2/A3GEA1/A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
IndonesiaArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A4. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
IranReported count for M109A1. Service scope: Iranian Army; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): quantity: 150. Origin: United States Iran. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2026), not the article revision. 2026 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
IraqArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5; M109A1. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
IsraelStored Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A2. Explicit source inventory scope: stored; independently counted whole stock in store. November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no operational holding, readiness or parent-force total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names and exact storage declarations retained. Stored quantities earn no operational index points.
Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
ItalyReported count for M109 howitzers. Service scope: Italian Army; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): quantity: 11. Origin: unstated. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
JordanArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A1/A2. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
LatviaReported count for M109A5Ö / M109 Rechenstellenpanzer M109. Service scope: Latvian Land Forces; does not replace a national total. 2 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): quantity: 47 / quantity: 10. Origin: United States Austria. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
LebanonArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5; M109A2. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
MoroccoArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
NorwayReported count for M109A3GN. Service scope: Norwegian Army; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct quantity component(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Explicit source inventory scope: stored; no other stock status or total inferred. Count column(s): quantity: 33. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
OmanReported count for M109A0. Service scope: Royal Army of Oman; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): quantity: 15. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
PakistanArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5; M109A2; M109L. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
PeruArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A2. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
PortugalStored Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A2. Explicit source inventory scope: stored; independently counted whole stock in store. November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no operational holding, readiness or parent-force total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names and exact storage declarations retained. Stored quantities earn no operational index points.
Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
Saudi ArabiaArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A1B/A2. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
South KoreaMarines exact named equipment holdings: M109A2 (K55/K55A1). Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A2 (K55/K55A1). Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
SpainMarines exact named equipment holdings: M109A2. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
SwitzerlandOperations Command exact named equipment holdings: M109 KAWEST. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
Reported count for M-109 KAWEST WE. Service scope: Swiss Army; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): quantity (2024): 133. Origin: United States Switzerland. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
TaiwanArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A2/A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
ThailandArmy exact named equipment holdings: M109A5. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
UkraineReported count for M109 · M109A3GN M109A3DK M109A4BE M109A5Ö M109L M109A6 "Paladin". Country-wide list; no individual service specified. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): number: 90. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Explicitly named source subset; this is not a whole-family total and does not cover other listed designs. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2024), not the article revision. 2024 cited reference period. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates Army holdings only. Army M109L47 self-propelled howitzers.
United StatesUS Army exact named equipment holdings: M109A6; M109A7 (ε850 more M109A6 in store). Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: ARTILLERY / SP 155mm. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
Kuwait