As part of the new artillery system project, the next stage is looming with the mobility tests to be carried out in Switzerland. After the establishment of the shortlist retaining two candidates for three candidate systems in 2022, practical tests will take place on a first system in Switzerland, from mid-October to the end of November.
In the Army 2026 message, it is planned to propose the acquisition of one of these three systems to replace the M109 armored howitzers, which were purchased over 50 years ago.
The M109 armored howitzer currently in service must be replaced by a modern system. At the end of the preliminary evaluation, the Federal Armament Office armasuisse in 2022 selected the Archer wheeled howitzer from Sweden’s BAE Systems Bofors and the RCH 155 AGM howitzer from Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (with two mobility options, tracked and wheeled) for the rest of the procedure.
The technical mobility tests with the vehicles aim to demonstrate and test their mobility capabilities on Swiss terrain. Organized under the leadership of armasuisse Science and Technologies (S+T), these tests will evaluate numerous aspects for deployment and training, such as mobility on Swiss roads and off-road, maneuverability, crossing obstacles, driver instruction, navigation, ergonomics, safety and certain other criteria.
In addition to the mobility trials, which will be mainly carried out in the Thun area, various other sites will take part in these trials in the cantons of Valais, Vaud, Jura and Fribourg. During the test phase, the systems will also be used on public roads.
The first system will be tested in Switzerland from mid-October to the end of November (weeks 42 to 47). Mobility testing of the other two systems is planned for the coming year.