{
  "id": "m109a3",
  "name": "M109A3",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "USA",
  "category": "155mm self-propelled howitzer",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1980,
  "operators": [
    "USA",
    "BRA",
    "DNK",
    "EGY",
    "ESP",
    "GRC",
    "JOR",
    "LBN",
    "MAR",
    "NOR",
    "PAK",
    "PRT",
    "SAU",
    "TUN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 14,
  "summary": "The M109A3 is a depot converted M109A1 incorporating the 27 mid-life improvements. The operational characteristics of the M109A3 are virtually identical to the M109A2.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 6,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Chassis",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "The M108 and M109 shared a common chassis (along with the M113 APC), but the M109 was heavier and had a larger gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.28,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 3.28,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 24.95,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "1 x General Motors 8V-71T 569-cu in (9.32-liter) liquid-cool",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 405,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmission",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Allison ATD-XTG 411-2A (A3) or 411-4 with quick disconnect powershift crossdrive, 4 forward and 2 reverse gears",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 354,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 56,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.07 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "torsion bar, 7 road wheels, front drive, rear idler, no return rollers (all models except PIM)",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "-3/+75 deg (-53/+1,333 mils)",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "1 rd/min first hour; 4 rd in first 3 min max",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (sustained)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "2 rpm",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Fire-control equipment includes an elbow telescope M118C for direct fire with a magnification of 4x and 10-degree field of view; panoramic telescope M117 for indirect fire and gunner's quadrant M1A1.",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "It has an all weather ballistic shield mounted over the panoramic telescope; counterbalanced travel lock and provisions for mounting the M140 alignment device.",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "light alloy aluminum to protect against small-arms fire and shell splinters",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "INA, the turret takes up the rear. On top of the turret, there is a small cupola, from which the commander operates. This cupola is also fitted with a 12.7 mm (.50) M2HB heavy machine gun.",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "none fitted",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "M185 155 mm/L39 howitzer, 155mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "M2 Browning",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 14.6,
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "DPICM",
      "role": "155mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {},
      "range_km": 22,
      "qty": "36 Rounds Total of any Combination Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "HE",
      "role": "155 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {},
      "range_km": 17.7,
      "qty": "36 Rounds Total of any Combination Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "RAAMS Long",
      "role": "155mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {},
      "range_km": 17.7,
      "qty": "36 Rounds Total of any Combination Projectiles"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "M109",
      "text": "First produced in 1963. It had a 23 caliber 155 mm M126 gun in an M127 Howitzer Mount, and carried 28 rounds of 155 mm ammunition. It was also armed with a .50cal M2HB machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition. Easily id",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "M109A1",
      "text": "Replaced the M126 gun with a longer barreled, 39 caliber M185 gun, increasing maximum range to 18,100 meters.",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "M109A2",
      "text": "Incorporated 27 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) mid-life improvements. Most notably, the long barreled 155 mm M185 cannon in the new M178 gun mount, ballistic protection for the panoramic telescope, ",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "M109A3 and M109A3B",
      "text": "M109A1s and M109A1Bs rebuilt to M109A2 standard respectively. Some A3s feature three contact arm assemblies, while all A2s have five.",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "M109A4",
      "text": "M109A2s and M109A3s improved with Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical / Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (NBC/RAM) improvements, including air purifiers, heaters, and Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "M109A5",
      "text": "Replaces the 155 mm M185 cannon in an M178 mount with a 39-caliber 155 mm M284 cannon in an M182 mount, giving the A5 a maximum range of 22,000 meters with unassisted projectiles and 30,000 meters with Rocket Assisted Pr",
      "src": [
        "weg-m109a3"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "sph",
  "image": {
    "file": "m109a3.jpg",
    "thumb": "m109a3-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "George E. Koronaios",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An_M109_howitzer_in_Athens_on_March_25,_2024.jpg",
    "title": "File:An M109 howitzer in Athens on March 25, 2024.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/m109a3.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-m109a3": {
      "title": "M109A3 American 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/M109A3_American_155mm_Self-Propelled_Howitzer",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}