M777 Howitzer, the latest model in service with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, is produced by BAE Systems’ Global Combat Systems (UK) under a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense. It accounts for 70% of the new artillery vehicles, with an average cost of $39,500 per unit.
The M777 is designed based on the M198 Howitzer, but compared to the M198, the M777 is smaller and lighter (about 42% less) because many of its components are made from titanium alloy. The crew size is reduced to 7 members, compared to 9 in the M198.
The howitzer weighs 4.2 tons; its length in travel mode is 9.5 meters, and in combat mode, it extends to 10.7 meters, with a barrel length of 5.08 meters. The elevation angle of the M777’s barrel ranges from 0 to 71.7 degrees, and the combat crew requires 7-8 soldiers. The firing rate of the M777 ranges from 2 to 7 rounds per minute.
The M777 is equipped with a digital fire control system for guidance, targeting, and self-location of targets. This enhances the accuracy and responsiveness of the M777 artillery crew.
To improve the operational capability of the M777, experts from BAE Systems have designed the barrel to accommodate various types of ammunition for attacking different targets. With the M982 Excalibur GPS-guided munition, the firing range of the M777 reaches up to 40 kilometers, with a circular error probable (CEP) of 5 meters.
The M777 can be transported by CH-47 Chinook helicopters, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, or towed by trucks. Although it is a towed howitzer, the M777’s fire control system is highly advanced, similar to that of the self-propelled M109A6 Paladin. The M777 has proven effective in counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years.
Key technical and tactical features include: 7-member crew; weight: 4,200 kg; caliber: 155 mm; firing rate: 2 rounds/minute (normal); 5 rounds/minute (rapid). It uses various types of ammunition: high-explosive fragmentation, extended range, and guided munitions.
Currently, it is in service with the armed forces of the United States, Australia, Canada, India, and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has supplied Ukraine with 126 M777 howitzers.
