M109

M109 is the designation most commonly associated with a family of American self-propelled 155 mm howitzers. Entering service in the 1960s, the M109 provides mobile indirect fire support for mechanized and armored units. It is a tracked, armored vehicle carrying a 155 mm gun in a turret, designed to deliver high-angle, indirect fire while on the move and to redeploy quickly. The platform combined the firepower of a towed howitzer with the mobility of a self-propelled system, allowing it to operate on varied terrain alongside armor.

Variants and upgrades have produced several generations under the M109 designation. Early versions such as the M109A1, A2, and A3 introduced improvements in fire control, ammunition handling, protection, and reliability. A major evolution is the M109A6 Paladin, which features a redesigned turret, an integrated digital fire-control system, and enhanced power and protection for faster, more accurate missions. More recent efforts have pursued the M109A7 Paladin, a modernization that uses a new chassis and powertrain to extend service life and simplify maintenance while retaining the 155 mm gun.

Operational history and current status: The M109 family was developed for and adopted by the United States Army and has been widely exported to allied forces. It has seen service in multiple conflicts since the Vietnam era and, in many configurations, remains in use or serves as the basis for newer systems. The Paladin variants, in particular, have represented major steps in maintaining mobile, mid- to long-range indirect fire capability within modern armored formations.