The range of the U.S. Army's towed long-range howitzer, the 155 mm M777, will be increased to almost three times to counter Russia's 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV 152 mm self-propelled gun (SPG) with a range of 70 km.

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The standard M777 in service since 2005 will be upgraded to the M777ER, whose range will be increased to 70 km using a rocket-assisted round from 24 km firing conventional rounds. The range boost will be achieved by increasing barrel length by 2.4 meters. Despite this, the new gun will only be 450 kg heavier than the original, which weighs only 4,200 kg.

Concern about being outranged by the Russian Koalitsiya-SV triggered the effort to upgrade the M777. The howitzer equips most U.S. Army light and medium weight combat brigades, including light infantry, mountain, airborne, air assault, and Stryker brigades. It also arms the U.S. Marines.

Giving the M777ER its longer range will be the XM1113 rocket-assisted round, which uses a rocket motor to extend range, and the XM654 supercharge. Other improvements include an autoloader and a new fire control system.

Despite these improvements, the M777ER will remain relatively immobile compared to its opposite number, the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV.

This Russian SPG was first seen in public in 2015 during rehearsals for the Moscow Victory Day Parade and has since entered service with the Russian Ground Forces in limited numbers. The 2S35 will supplement and later replace the 2S19 Msta self-propelled gun.

The U.S. Army is playing catch-up as it upgrades the M777 in response to the new strategic situation where combat against ill-equipped insurgents will be replaced by high-intensity, high tech combat against near peer foes such as Russia and China.

Tests of the M777ER will continue through 2018. If successful, the new barrel and technologies will be extended to the M109 self-propelled 155 mm howitzer nicknamed Paladin equipping the Army's heavy brigade combat teams. 

TagsU.S. Army, M777 towed long-range howitzer, 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV 152 mm self-propelled gun, M777ER