Pentagon scrambles to find contractors to build new self-propelled guns in Europe after US ERCA project fails

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After the cancellation of the Extended Range Artillery (ERCA) program, the US continues to search for opportunities to create a 155mm self-propelled gun. The US military department plans to announce a competition for the production of a new gun.

The decision was made after US delegations visited weapons manufacturing plants BAE Systems, Elbit Systems, Hanwha, General Dynamics and Rheinmetall to assess the capabilities of the future program.



The first phase, which will produce specific proposals for the new SPG, will begin in February. A number of companies will then receive contracts to produce the guns, which are expected to be concluded between June and September 2025. Additional competitive evaluation tests will be held in the next financial year.

During the second stage, which will begin in the 2027 fiscal year, another selection of previously proposed projects will be conducted. The introduction of the new weapon into service is scheduled for 2030. It is possible that the Pentagon will select several versions of the self-propelled gun.

Meanwhile, the ERCA 155mm long-range self-propelled howitzer program was cancelled in March 2024 as the prototype was not successful enough to proceed to production.
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  1. 0
    4 February 2025 22: 36
    High-precision rocket systems, such as "Hymers" and similar ones, have proven their effectiveness. So, instead of large-caliber barrel artillery (152, 160, 203 mm.), create a more widespread high-precision line of MLRS Tornado: 220, 300 mm. And more with a thermobaric warhead, which has also proven its effectiveness. High-precision artillery shells are not much cheaper than MLRS shells, only the warhead is weaker (HV), and the reach is several times less. The cost of artillery barrels and other things is much higher than the cost of MLRS. The volume of artillery shots reveals how MLRS are less noisy, etc.
    Conclusion: produce more MLRS with high-precision projectiles and reduce the production of barrel artillery.