BAE Systems has received a potential $45 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop a prototype of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery designed to increase the rate and range of fire on M109A7 self-propelled howitzers.
The company said Monday that it will work with service’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center to develop the ERCA increment 1 prototype and replace the 39-caliber turret with a 58-caliber gun barrel to increase the howitzer’s firepower.
“Long-range precision fire is a top priority for the Army, and we are pleased to be a partner in efforts to equip soldiers with the latest technology,†said Scott Davis, vice president or programs at BAE’s combat vehicles business.
Work on the ERCA prototype will be carried out at BAE’s facilities in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota and at the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey.
BAE is in the low-rate initial production phase for the service’s M109A7 howitzer configuration and is producing precision guidance kits with anti-jamming capabilities under a separate contract.
