Latvia to purchase another batch of M109A5 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Austria
According to information released by a Latvian press agency on May 18, 2021, citing information from the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the country has signed an agreement with Austria to purchase another batch of 18 second-hand M109A5 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers.
In October 2019 The Latvian Army inducted first batch of 47 M109A5Oe 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers coming from the surplus of Austrian armed forces.
Austria purchased 38 M-109 and 18 M-109A2 self-propelled howitzers from the United States. In mid-1994, Austria purchased 27 M-109 series self-propelled artillery systems which were surplus to the requirements of the British Army.
The M109A50e has a number of unique features that differ from the standard M109A5 including an Austrian semi-automatic flick rammer, inertial positive navigation system, Swiss electrical system and the same 155 mm ordnance as used on the M109A6 Paladin currently in service with the US Army.