First of all, the M2000 Crusader was, as you correctly stated, the planned replacement for the M109 self-propelled howitzer. The main reason it was cancelled was because the Pentagon decided it was still too heavy, weighing in at around 40 tons if I remember correctly.

Now, the Pentagon has created a plan of its future force known as Future Combat System (FCS). This plan includes at least five manned vehicles, one of which is known as the Non Line Of Sight Cannon, or NLOS-C. NLOS-C is now the planned replacement for the M109 SP howitzer. United Defense LP, the builder of the Crusader, has been appoined as lead contractor on the NLOS-C system.

So here’s where the stories diverge, as I can’t seem to find a single reason for GDLS teaming with Denel to create this thing, with some saying the US Army “had an urgent need for a light SP howitzer” and some saying UD issued a RFI to GDLS to participate in the NLOS-C project. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle.

The thing is, the US Army has not yet settled on what calibre they want the NLOS-C to be, with everything from 105mm to 120mm to 155mm being considered. In fact, UDLP’s demonstrator uses the British-designed XM777 lightweight 155mm gun, but even that may prove too heavy and/or unwieldy. Denel’s gun, whilst not the lightest of 105mm guns, has the same range and lethality of current 155mm howitzers, if not better. I’ll move into the specific NLOS-C requirements soon, but let me quickly gloss over the Stryker Brigade requirements.

Though this is currently unfunded, it’s no secret that the US Army wants a light self-propelled howitzer with a 6400 mile (10 000 km) range, but light enough to be carried by a C-130, for the Stryker Brigade. Currently the US Army has deployed M198 155mm towed howitzers with Stryker Brigade CTs 1-4 and M777 155mm towed howitzers with Stryker Brigade CTs 5-6, but while this delivers the required lethality and range it is seen as merely an interim measure, and they hamper Stryker’s mobility. So there’s a very good chance the Army will acquire a light SP howitzer for the Stryker Brigade in the near future, and when they do, the Denel/GDLS system will be at the top of their pile of choices. At 17.5 tons with a full ammo load, it’s light enough to be carried in a C-130 (18.3 tons max), and can be in action within minutes of coming off the aircraft.

So, let’s get into the advantages the Denel/GDLS system has. First of all remember that the NLOS-C specification is not finalised yet, and the final calibre may be anything from 105mm to 120mm to 155mm, or there may even be two variants, one 155mm and one 105mm.
Currently the only firm requirement for the NLOS-C is that a 26 000 m range is required, as well as a CEP of 143 m at this range. The G7, when used with Denel’s Igala 105mm ammunition, easily beats this even now. At 24 000m it has a CEP of less than 80m and at its max range of 32 000m it has a CEP of less than 120m. That means it has a CEP 227% better than UDLP’s proposed NLOS-C solution which fires US M549 155mm arty ammo, and it outranges it by 4km. As a plus point, the G7 can fire all current US 105mm ammo, and even adds around 10km compared to their maximum range when fired by US guns.

Part of the incredible performance of the G7 is due to the South African artillery ammunition. The Assegai (155mm) and Igala (105mm) ammunition is quite simply the best on earth, and the most accurate unguided artillery ammunition that exists. Both ranges are currently being tested by the US Army, and they recently gave GDLS a contract to manufacture them on behalf of Denel for the US Army and Marine Corps. As things are at the moment, it looks almost certain that even if the G7 wins no US contracts, the Army and Marine Corps will be buying our artillery ammunition.

The Igala range consists of the M2019 HE, M2020 Pre-Formed Fragment (PFF) HE, M2019 Practice, M0101 bi-spectral Smoke and the M0102 IR and visual Illumination rounds. Of those, the US currently has no PFF artillery rounds, no bi-spectral smoke rounds, and no IR illumination rounds. Hell, the M2020 has a lethal area of 1,684 square metres, as opposed to the lethal area of current US 155mm (never mind 105mm) rounds which is around 1000 square metres. However, the PFF fragmentation is also uniform, which means that although it has a greater lethality area than current US 155mm ammo, it has a 50% smaller danger area from rogue fragments, so it’s both more accurate and safer to use in areas where limiting collateral damage is a concern, as well as being safer to use in the vicinity of one’s own forces.

To give an example of the lethality of the 105mm Igala PFF HE round as compared to current US 155mm rounds, the Igala round is twice as lethal against personnel and soft-skinned vehicle targets. It contains 7,800 tungsten balls, and it’s lethal enough to wipe out an entire soccer field.

Ok, now onto the gun and vehicle itself. This is a collaborative relationship with Denel producing the gun and turret, and GDLS supplying the vehicle (currently a LAV-III demonstrator). The turret is entirely unmanned, so the crew operate the gun by remote control from within the vehicle. This is safer. It features an autoloader, and a 56-round magazine, which is easily resupplied in the field. The gun fires at a rate of at least 6 rounds per minute, and it’s been tested at deflections of 4 to 75 degrees and a traverse angle of 30 degrees to either side, without the need for spades or stabilisers. Part of this is due to the incredible muzzle brake Denel have fitted to this thing. It’s nearly 60% efficient at cutting recoil, compared to other systems which hit 40% max, and it’s so effective it actually ADDS to the gun’s range, probably the first muzzle brake to do so. The gun is also able to fire ArmourPiercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) anti-tank rounds if needed, though the Stryker Mobile Gun System, with its 105mm anti-tank gun will obviously be better suited to that sort of thing.

So let’s sum up. You have here a 105mm self-propelled howitzer with better range and lethality than current NATO 155mm systems, yet it’s light enough to be transported fully-equipped in a C-130, meaning it can be in action within minutes of landing. This has apparently got a lot of people excited, not just in the US military. Canada, Great Britain and South Africa are all also keeping an eye on this thing, because it seems to fit their needs so perfectly. All are looking at a possible 2008/2009/2010 timeline if they do purchase it. Denel will be fitting the gun and turret onto a Rooikat for the South African demonstration, but if purchased it would probably be fitted to whichever vehicle we decide to procure to replace the Ratel, for the sake of commonality.

As an aside, the US Army and Marine Corps will soon be tendering to replace the thousands of 105mm towed guns they have in service. The towed version of the G7 is a front-runner to win that contract as well, especially when considering there is no current 105mm system in the world that can match it for range and lethality.

So, the future for the G7 is looking fairly bright at the moment. Let’s hope the US doesn’t fall into its old trap of “Buy American at all costs” and does decide to purchase it.

PS. Phew! I think that was comprehensive enough! :P

PPS. Here’s a pic of the prototype:
http://www.strykernews.com/gallery/albums/strykerhowitzer/howitzer1.jpg

South Africa still has the best mine-resistant vehicle tech on earth, but we’re losing it at a fast rate. For instance, the company making the Buffalo and Cougar is TSG of the US, which bought the tech from SA in 1998. That’s not good.

Incidentally, on a different issue, the chances are looking better than even that the US Army will select the Denel G7 105mm gun and turret combo, mounted on a vehicle supplied by General Dynamics Land Systems, as the artillery segment for the Stryker Mobile Gun System.

I agree with you Laurence, it’s great that the country, even if indirectly, is contributing to the establishment of democracy in Iraq.