Documents
United States BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems)
M109A7 Paladin
Latest evolution of the U.S. Army's tracked self-propelled 155 mm howitzer family, rebuilt on a new hybrid-electric chassis derived from the Bradley for improved reliability and power generation.
In service since 2015 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
61
km/h
300
km range
155
mm gun
40,590
kg
💲 ≈ $6,000,000, Approximate unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2015. Status: active · ~600 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$15M – $21M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~25 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 61 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 300 km |
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 4 rpm |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 155 mm M284 howitzer |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 155 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 39 |
| Max firing range Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach. | 30 km |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 40,590 kg |
|---|---|
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 4 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Cummins V903 diesel (Bradley commonality powerpack) |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 600 hp |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $6,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 600 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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See how it stacks up
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DANA Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin has a maximum speed of 61 km/h.
What is the range of the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin has a maximum range of 300 km.
How much does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin weigh? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin has a combat weight of 40,590 kg.
How many crew does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin require? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin requires a crew of 4.
What is the main armament of the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin's primary weapon is the 155 mm M284 howitzer.
What engine does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin use? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin is powered by the Cummins V903 diesel (Bradley commonality powerpack).
How many countries operate the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin cost? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M109A7 Paladin has an approximate unit cost of 6,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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