Artillery Systems - EMD

The Artillery Systems - EMD program, under Program Element PE 0604854A, is a key Army initiative focused on the engineering and manufacturing development of advanced artillery weapons systems. The overarching goal of this program is to modernize field artillery capabilities to address system obsolescence, improve operational performance, and counter emerging threats on the modern battlefield. The program supports both Combined Arms Maneuver (CAM) and Wide Area Security (WAS) operations, ensuring artillery units can deliver accurate, long-range, and lethal fires in support of Brigade Combat Teams. Funding within this program is allocated across several distinct projects, each targeting specific objectives in artillery system modernization, integration, and testing.

Project 516 is dedicated to the modernization of the Self-Propelled Howitzer and Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV). The primary objectives include conducting system usage and optimization studies, simulations, and development engineering to mature system configurations. This project also involves the development and procurement of Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) prototypes and incremental upgrades for field artillery systems. Program management oversees detailed scheduling, contract execution, and coordination of all programmatic documentation. Product development efforts focus on engineering activities to enhance vehicle and component performance, with a recent shift toward component-level modernization rather than full vehicle upgrades. The acquisition strategy leverages government and contractor support to prototype, test, and validate modernization technologies.

Project DH7 represents a new start in FY 2026, supporting the Army's Howitzer Modernization under the Army Transformation Initiative. The goal is to deliver a highly mobile, survivable, and versatile howitzer system capable of long-range, lethal fires. This project is driven by the Mobile Tactical Cannon Directed Requirement (MTC-DR), which seeks to reduce emplacement and displacement times, increase crew survivability, and enhance mobility. FY 2026 funding is directed toward the integration and testing of system-of-systems components, including artillery weapon systems, ammunition, and fire control systems, to achieve desired firing range and effects. Key activities include product development at Army research centers, digital fire control system optimization, ammunition compatibility assessments, and extensive testing at Army proving grounds.

Project HB6 focuses on developing a self-propelled, wheeled 155mm howitzer to provide rapid, lethal counter-fire and close support for maneuver formations. The objectives are to improve tactical mobility, system survivability, and crew protection compared to existing towed howitzer systems. Development efforts include prototyping, system evaluations, and technology assessments, with particular attention to improved emplacement/displacement times and driving speed. The program also evaluates soft recoil technologies for 105mm extended range artillery systems, aiming to enhance compatibility and performance. Congressional adds in FY 2024 supported engineering, program management, and testing activities, including the integration and evaluation of soft recoil systems on Army vehicle chassis.

Each project within the Artillery Systems - EMD program is managed through a combination of government oversight and contractor support, with activities distributed across Army research and development centers such as Picatinny Arsenal and Watervliet Arsenal. The acquisition strategies emphasize prototyping, testing, and evaluation of both existing and new technologies to ensure that modernization efforts meet operational requirements. Testing and evaluation are conducted by the Army Test and Evaluation Command, focusing on safety, ammunition compatibility, mobility, survivability, and transportability.

The justification for these investments centers on the need to maintain the Army's competitive edge in indirect fire capabilities, ensuring artillery units can effectively support maneuver operations and respond to near-peer threats. By modernizing legacy systems and developing next-generation platforms, the Army aims to increase the lethality, mobility, and survivability of its field artillery formations. The program also supports broader Army transformation goals, aligning with initiatives to enhance operational flexibility and readiness.