Lightweight 155mm Howitzer (LW 155) Lightweight 155mm Howitzer (LW 155) (LW 155mm Howitzer Lightweight DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS PROGRAM STATUS The M777 Lightweight 155mm Howitzer (M777) • Current Low-rate initial production for 94 Marine incorporates innovative designs to achieve lighter Corps guns with conventional fire control weight without sacrificing the range, stability, • Developmental testing of howitzers equipped with accuracy, or durability of the current M198 howitzer digital fire control successful and near completion system it replaces. The lighter weight is achieved • Digital fire control program has synchronized the through lower trunnion height and the use of high- with the basic howitzer strength titanium, a primary component of the • 1QFY05 Operational testing commenced lower carriage and cradle assembly. Two M777s can • Once type classified, the digital fire control- be transported in a C130 aircraft and can also be equipped howitzer will be designated the dropped by parachute. The M777’s lighter weight, M777A1. All future howitzers will be procured in smaller footprint, and lower profile provide improved the M777A1 configuration. strategic deployability, tactical mobility, and survivability. The primer feeding mechanism, loader- PROJECTED ACTIVITIES Provides direct, reinforcing, and assist, digital fire control, and other automation • 2QFY05 Joint Milestone C for full-rate production enhancements will improve survivability, lethality, decision of the M777A1 general support fire to maneuver and combat reliability, as well as provide light • 2QFY05 Full-rate production contract award and artillery with a semi-autonomous capability that is production begins forces and directs support artillery currently found only in self-propelled howitzers. • 4QFY06 Army initial operational capability of CONTRACTORS for Stryker Brigade Combat Teams. M777 replaces the M198 howitzer as the general M777A1 (howitzer with digital fire control) Prime Contractor: BAE Systems support artillery for light forces in the Army. M777 (United Kingdom and Hattiesburg, MS) is a jointly managed program with the Marine Corps Castings: as the lead agency for development of the howitzer Precision Castparts Corporation (Portland, OR) and the Army as the lead agency for development Digital Fire Control: of Towed Artillery Digitization (TAD), the digital fire General Dynamics (Burlington, VT) control system for the M777. Howitzer Body: Hydro-Mill (Chatsworth, CA) Castings: Howmet Castings (Whitehall, MI) INVESTMENT COMPONENT Modernization ACQUISITION PHASE • System Development and Demonstration • Production and Deployment 182 UNITED STATES ARMY WEAPON SYSTEMS 2005 183.