In a speech at the Association of the US Army's Global Force symposium, Gen. James Rainey, head of the US Army Futures Command, expressed his belief that the era of towed artillery is coming to an end. Rainey emphasized the need for mobile, indirect fires in the face of large scale operations against threats like China, particularly in the Army's lighter Stryker formations.

The Army has been working on a tactical fires study to determine the ideal mix of artillery capabilities for the future. While Rainey did not provide specific details, it appears that towed cannons will not be included in the recommendations. Instead, the focus will be on developing autonomous, robotic cannons for entry operations, with no specific caliber preference at this time.

Furthermore, Rainey highlighted the need for a better armored howitzer that can effectively hit targets up to 70km away. The Army had recently halted work on the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) platform prototype, which aimed to increase the range of the M109A7 self-propelled howitzer from 30km to 70km. However, the requirement for extended range remains, and the Army is exploring a combination of new munitions and supercharged propellants.

To meet these requirements, the Army is actively seeking proposals from companies for existing platforms. BAE Systems has offered its M109-52 prototype, which incorporates the Rheinmetall L52 main gun onto the M109A7 howitzer. Elbit America has proposed its Sigma, a self-propelled howitzer with a 155mm, 52 caliber autoloader that is being developed for Israel and is expected to be fielded next year.

Other potential contenders for the Army's future artillery needs include South Korea's Hanwha and Germany's KMW. The Army is set to host an initial industry day next week to further explore these options and potential solutions.

As the Army's tactical fires study progresses, it is clear that the focus is shifting away from towed artillery towards mobile, autonomous systems and enhanced armored howitzers. With the increasing complexity of modern threats, the Army is adapting its arsenal to ensure it remains effective and capable in future conflicts.