BAE to restart M777 production under new contract

BAE Systems is to restart production of the titanium structures for the M777 towed howitzer following a $162 million (£124 million) contract awarded by the US Army, according to a 15th April press release.

The contract follows an Undefinitized Contract Action awarded to BAE in January 2024, allowing the company to establish a new plant in Sheffield in the UK to re-establish production of the structures there. That contract value was capped at $50 million (approx £39.6 million) whilst the full terms and costs of the contract were figured out. This latest announcement finalises that contract, allowing production to begin. 

First deliveries are expected in 2026 and will leverage a diverse supply with companies in the UK and US. For the initial production run, the M776 barrel was manufactured at the Watervliet Arsenal in the US, with the titanium structure and recoil mechanisms manufactured at BAE’s Barrow-in-Furness facility in the UK. The Barrow-in-Furness facility is now dedicated to manufacturing the UK’s Dreadnought submarine, leading to the new facility being built in Sheffield.

KNDS US manufactured the traverse and elevation drives on the gun, as well as other components, and has continued to do so in support of the US armed forces. The stabilisers, spades, and trails were manufactured by Major Tool and Machining Inc in Indianapolis, while Rock Island Arsenal produced the breech operating and load tray system. The titanium was supplied by RTI International Metals from Ohio, and a company called HydroMill saw to the assembly of the howitzer’s main body, according to Janes.

The US Army’s budget request for 2024 includes a number of budget lines for modifications to the fire control system on the M777A2. The aim is to improve the weapon’s ability to function in GPS-contested environments through the addition of an M-code GPS receiver. It also includes funds to integrate a modernised digital fire control system with software and hardware improvements. Restarting production is likely intended to replace the M777s that have been donated to Ukraine. 

Tech profile: M777

U.S. Army cannon crew members assigned to Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment fire a 155mm artillery round from their M777A2 howitzer during a live fire exercise as part of Dynamic Front 25 on Grafenwoehr Training Area, Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 19, 2024. (US Army photo by Capt. Thomas McCarty)

The Lightweight 155mm Howitzer (LW155), or M777A2 came about as a joint programme between the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the US Army. It entered service with the USMC in 2005 and subsequently was fielded across its active units and the Army’s Stryker and Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (including National Guard elements). It has been operationally deployed to Afghanistan where its capabilities were well-received, and has performed well in Ukraine. 

This system offers direct, reinforcing, and general fire support, projecting unassisted rounds to 30km and assisted projectiles to 40km. Critically, its digital fire control system enables the deployment of Excalibur precision-guided munitions beyond 40km with a striking accuracy of better than 10-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP). Leveraging advanced materials, the LW155 is the first US ground combat system to incorporate high-strength titanium alloy extensively in its structure, complemented by hydraulics for breech, loading, recoil, and wheel operations. At a weight of 4,400 kg, this design yields a substantial 3,100 kg weight reduction compared to its M198 predecessor, alongside a three-fold increase in emplacement speed and a four-fold improvement in displacement. It takes around two minutes for the M777 to come into, or out of action, compared with 6 – 10 minutes for the M198. Furthermore, the M777 boasts a 32% greater terrain traverse capability and a 70% higher survivability rate. 

Calibre comment

Titanium is a strategic resource for defence, with uses across the sector. It makes up a considerable part of the F-35 airframe and is used in many other applications like jet engines, armours, and submarines. The US previously imported titanium from Russia, but stopped those transactions in 2022. It is now working to re-establish domestic production of titanium from ore through to metals through $47 million (£37.6 million) in funding given to IperionX. In its March report, IperionX anticipated reaching full operational capacity for scrap-to-forged titanium production by mid-2025. The US is now importing titanium sponge and other elements primarily from Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, and the UK. Of the $1.4 billion (£1.12 billion) in titanium imports in 2024, $369 million (£295.2 million) came from Japan while Saudi Arabia and China supplied $97 million (£77.6 million) each and the UK $92 million (£73.6 million).