155mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer

The 155MM Lightweight Towed Howitzer program, known as the M777A2 Howitzer, is a collaborative effort between the Marine Corps and the Army. It aims to provide all-weather, day/night, reinforcing, and direct/general support fires to maneuver forces. Since its initial fielding in April 2005, the M777A2 Howitzer has been a critical component of the Marine Corps' artillery capabilities. The program's primary goal is to maintain and enhance the performance and lethality of this artillery system through various modernization efforts.

A key objective of the program is upgrading its Digital Fire Control System (DFCS). These upgrades are essential for ensuring continued operation in environments where Global Positioning System (GPS) signals may be contested or unavailable. By enhancing the DFCS, the program seeks to enable precision and near-precision fire missions while maintaining operational tempo despite potential GPS challenges. This effort includes procuring modification kits and refreshing obsolete components to meet current Department of Defense software compliance mandates.

The program also supports retrofitting previously procured hardware modifications such as software-defined radios. These modifications are crucial for maintaining system readiness and ensuring that the howitzer remains effective in modern combat scenarios. The increase from FY 2024 to FY 2025 reflects these procurement efforts, which include transitioning the DFCS from Windows 7 to Windows 10/11 compliance as mandated by the Department of Defense.

The 155MM Lightweight Towed Howitzer program plays a vital role in sustaining and advancing the artillery capabilities of both the Marine Corps and Army. By focusing on technological upgrades and addressing obsolescence issues, this program ensures that the M777A2 Howitzer remains a reliable and effective tool for supporting military operations both domestically and in support of allied forces abroad.