Exclusive Content

Several defence news outlets have reported with some fanfare that the future of towed artillery looks bleak. Simply put, because of faster kill chains, better ISR, precision ammunition, and the shift towards preparing for near-peer competition, the mobility of artillery assets has gained a premium status in the minds of military planners. When one examines the Defence iQ Market report, one notices that most programmes are for Self-Propelled Howitzers. The calls that towed artillery heads for extinction are misleading, as they still fulfil a niche role due to some advantages over SPHs. This opinion piece briefly explores why this is.

During the Ukraine war, the importance of artillery has been reemphasised because of the contested air space. Defence iQ has had the privilege of interviewing Colonel Baranov who was appointed to lead the Ukrainian Artillery War. Colonel Baranov’s interview provides unique insights into the conflict.

Despite all the advances in technology, artillery remains a core part of any army. We were very fortunate to interview Colonel Leon L. Rogers II, Project Manager, Combat Ammunition Systems (PM CAS), from the JPEO Armaments & Ammunition. In this piece, Colonel Rogers dives into the latest development and challenges faced by the JPEO Armaments & Ammunition. An essential piece of reading for anyone interested in the JPEO’s wishes from industry.

The adoption of the HIMARS has received great fan fair in the media, giving Ukrainian forces unprecedented capabilities in theatre. Adam Schluer puts the adoption into perspective, analysing what these capabilities mean for both Ukrainian and Russian forces.

The global artillery systems market is expected to grow by about US$2 billion in the next 4 years due to a number of security pressures. Not only are they expected to increase in platform numbers, there is a concerted effort to increase their capabilities and effectiveness through the use of new technologies. To help capture that growth and development, we have provided a market report of the countries attending our Future Artillery Conference in 2024. Whether you are looking to be better informed or expand your talking points, this report covers the expenditures on:

• Rockets
• Gun/tube type artillery
• Loitering munitions
• Target acquisition technologies (AI)