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Australia turns down surplus Dutch PzH2000 howitzers
Julian Kerr JDW Correspondent
Sydney
The Australian Defence Force ( ADF) has declined a Dutch offer of 18 Kraus-Maffei Wegmann PzH2000 155 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) to meet a major part of the ADF’s Land 17 artillery replacement programme.
The Royal Netherlands Army has declared 18 of the 57 PzH2000s it has on order as surplus to requirements. The guns, offered to Australia at what is understood to be an advantageous price, have yet to be built.
Brigadier Stephen Dunn, Director-General Land Development, told an industry briefing that a compelling case for purchasing the PzH2000s had not been established. This was largely due to the absence of accurate in-service support costs.
An open Request for Tender (RfT) for no less than 18 52-cal 155 mm protected SPHs to replace the ADF’s 36 M198 towed howitzers will be released no later than the last quarter of 2007, said Brig Dunn. Contenders include the PzH2000, the Samsun Techwin K9 Thunderer, Denel’s G6-52 and the Bofors FH-77-BW Archer.
Raytheon’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) has now been mandated as the required digital Battlefield Management System – Fires (BMS-F) for Land 17. It will be procured by the government via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
The Land 17 requirement for up to four batteries (35 platforms) of lightweight towed 155 mm howitzers has specified a maximum gun weight of 5,040 kg to allow transportation by a ballistically protected Boeing CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter. This is understood to leave the BAE Systems M777A2 ultra lightweight howitzer, weighing 3,745 kg, as the only contender. The M777A2 features hardware and software upgrades enabling it to fire the XM922 Excalibur extended-range precision unitary munition.
In a related development, Australia has requested the purchase of an unknown quantity of Excalibur projectiles from the US for its existing M198 155 mm towed howitzers. The breeches on at least 18 M198s are being modified to enable them to fire the Excalibur rounds. This is understood to be a precaution against the possible deployment of M198s to support Australian troops in Afghanistan should the current artillery support provided by Dutch-manned PzH2000s be withdrawn.
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© 2007 Jane's Information Group
Comment: With the CF getting back into the tracked game so to speak, would this not be a good opportunity for us?
Julian Kerr JDW Correspondent
Sydney
The Australian Defence Force ( ADF) has declined a Dutch offer of 18 Kraus-Maffei Wegmann PzH2000 155 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) to meet a major part of the ADF’s Land 17 artillery replacement programme.
The Royal Netherlands Army has declared 18 of the 57 PzH2000s it has on order as surplus to requirements. The guns, offered to Australia at what is understood to be an advantageous price, have yet to be built.
Brigadier Stephen Dunn, Director-General Land Development, told an industry briefing that a compelling case for purchasing the PzH2000s had not been established. This was largely due to the absence of accurate in-service support costs.
An open Request for Tender (RfT) for no less than 18 52-cal 155 mm protected SPHs to replace the ADF’s 36 M198 towed howitzers will be released no later than the last quarter of 2007, said Brig Dunn. Contenders include the PzH2000, the Samsun Techwin K9 Thunderer, Denel’s G6-52 and the Bofors FH-77-BW Archer.
Raytheon’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) has now been mandated as the required digital Battlefield Management System – Fires (BMS-F) for Land 17. It will be procured by the government via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
The Land 17 requirement for up to four batteries (35 platforms) of lightweight towed 155 mm howitzers has specified a maximum gun weight of 5,040 kg to allow transportation by a ballistically protected Boeing CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter. This is understood to leave the BAE Systems M777A2 ultra lightweight howitzer, weighing 3,745 kg, as the only contender. The M777A2 features hardware and software upgrades enabling it to fire the XM922 Excalibur extended-range precision unitary munition.
In a related development, Australia has requested the purchase of an unknown quantity of Excalibur projectiles from the US for its existing M198 155 mm towed howitzers. The breeches on at least 18 M198s are being modified to enable them to fire the Excalibur rounds. This is understood to be a precaution against the possible deployment of M198s to support Australian troops in Afghanistan should the current artillery support provided by Dutch-manned PzH2000s be withdrawn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2007 Jane's Information Group
Comment: With the CF getting back into the tracked game so to speak, would this not be a good opportunity for us?
