Brazil kicks off refurbishment process for M109A3 artillery systems

The Brazilian Army has formally started the refurbishment process for its M109A3 self-propelled howitzers fleet. (Victor Manuel Saraiva Barreira)

The Brazilian Army has formally cleared a guideline on 2 October to start refurbishing its M109A3 self-propelled howitzers, according to a 22 September army announcement.

The effort is part of the subprogram ‘Field Artillery System' (SPrg SAC) and seeks to restore operability and extend the M109A3's life cycle by replacing structural parts and components or equipment, the army said. An army working group plans to conduct a viability study to perform the work, according to the announcement.

The Brazilian M109A3 is equipped with the long-barrelled 155 mm 39 calibre M185 cannon in the M178 gun mount, as well as a 12.7×99 mm machine gun.

The M109A3s are currently stored, according to the army. Its fleet, formerly M109A3BEs, was acquired from Belgium through Sabiex International (now OIP Land Systems) in 1999 as part of the FT-90 modernisation programme. The systems were delivered to Brazil with improvements between October 1999 and April 2001.