155mm Self Propelled Howitzer (PGM Ready) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army
The Philippine Army has raised a requirement for the formation of a second field artillery battalion equipped with a 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer system, as the service modernizes towards building capability geared for territorial defense.
This requirement was approved and the acquisition of additional 155mm self propelled howitzers was included in the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.
In this resource page, we discuss this project, which is called the 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, Precision Guided Munitions (PGM)-Ready Acquisition Project.
 |
| The KNDS CAESAR Mk II from France. Photo credits to KNDS. |
Project Summary:
155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (PGM Ready) Acquisition Project:
Note: Edited as of 23 March 2025.
* End User: Philippine Army (Army Artillery Regiment)
* Quantity: 12 units, plus unspecified munitions and ILS package
* Modernization Phase: Re-Horizon 3 Phase of RAFPMP
* Project ABC: Php5,500,000,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) deal between the Philippine DND and still unspecified country
* Source of Funding: Multi-Year Contractual Authority for (X) years, using General Appropriations Act (GAA) from FY2025 to FY200X.
* SARO Release/s: TBC
* Winning Proponent: TBC
* Product for Delivery: TBC
* Contract Price: TBC
* Residual Amount: TBC
* First post by MaxDefense: 20 September 2024
* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PA155mmSPHPhase2Acquisition #PA155mmSPHPGMReadyAcquisition
* Status: The DND has announced that it is among the priority projects proposed for FY2025. It remains to be seen if its funding was part of the Programmed or Unprogrammed Funding for FY2025.
 |
| An ATMOS 155mm SPH of the Philippine Army during live fire exercises. Photo credits to the Philippine Army. |
Overview:
The Philippine Army has proposed raising a second field artillery battalion equipped with 155mm self-propelled howitzer systems, after seeing the effectiveness and versatility of a mobile artillery system that can stop, fire and scoot at a very short period.
This would be beneficial for territorial defense especially when fighting a powerful foreign enemy that has strong surveillance and counter-artillery capabilities.
With this, the Philippine Army has included the acquisition of 12 more 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer systems as part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the RAFPMP.
Surprisingly though, it appears that the project was not part of the original Horizon 3 phase proposal submitted by the AFP to the DND in 2022. Information from our parent page MaxDefense Philippines was that the Philippine Army back then preferred for the acquisition of artillery based on mobile multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) rather than gun-based systems.
When Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro reviewed that proposal and decided to have the AFP revise it, that was only the time when the requirement for a second 155mm SPH battalion was raised, with a proposed budget of Php5.5 billion, or more than double the contract cost on the acquisition of the ATMOS 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer systems from Israel's Elbit Systems back in 2018.
Israel and the ATMOS 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer System
Priority will be given to Israel's Elbit Systems, who previously supplied the ATMOS 155mm SPH system to the Philippine Army. It is logical for the service to order additional units of the same system that it already has for commonality, ease of training and maintenance, etc.
It is said to be weighing at around 23 tonnes and has a maximum range of 41 kilometers using Extended Range Full Bore Base Bleed projectiles from its 155mm/52 caliber gun.
But the current situation in Israel could affect any order by the Philippines, as the Israeli Government has tasked its defense industry including Elbit System to prioritize the production of weapon systems and munitions for the Israel Defense Force as it still is in war in Gaza with Hamas and Southern Lebanon with Hezbollah (which restarted just hours after writing this resource page).
At the moment Elbit Systems is already delayed in its delivery of Sabrah Light Tanks and Wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers to the Philippine Army, and it is believed that Elbit Systems' priority with the Philippines at the moment is to just complete all its contracts as soon as possible, without possibly accepting new orders for now.
This has prompted the Philippine Army and DND to look for alternatives should there be no changes in the situation with Israel.
 |
| One of the ATMOS 155mm SPH of the Philippine Army. Photo credits to the Philippine Army. |
MaxDefense Philippines was able to gather some information regarding the project, although no technical specifications are yet available.
So far, the requirements is for a 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer system that is capable of firing Precision Guided Munitions, specifically 155mm artillery ammunition equipped with a guidance system.
Majority of modern 155mm SPH are capable of this, although the emphasis plus the large budget may mean that a large number of guided munitions could be included in this project.
The Philippine Army also prefer a system using a wheeled platform, similar to the ATMOS. This rules out any other tracked platform-based systems like the South Korean K9 Thunder and the American M109A6.
A wheeled system is preferred due to its cheaper operating cost and fuel consumption, its faster speed on roads and not needing specialized transportation over long distances, as well as for weight considerations.
There has been no information yet on the caliber size, maximum range, and other parameters, although we expect that the Philippine Army may closely follow the ATMOS as its baseline, which uses a 52 caliber gun.
It is also expected that the project will include the acquisition of munition supply trucks to support the artillery units, as well as allocation for training future crew and maintenance teams, as well as Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) which is now a heavy requirement for defense projects under the Re-Horizon 3 phase.
.jpg) |
| The wheeled requirement rules out tracked platforms like the K9 Thunder (above) from South Korea. Photo credits to ROK MND. |
This is a very crucial requirement that is meant to strengthen ties with like-minded countries, and securing that supply chains will be stable.
According to MaxDefense Philippines sources from the Philippine Army and the defense industry, it is expected that aside from the Elbit Systems ATMOS, the following were said to have been offered as of this writing:
It has a combat weight of 32 tonnes, and is 10.8 meters long.
While the product appears to be the closest in spec as the ATMOS, there are issues with this. First is that the product is not in use by any country including its original Turkiye, as RA 10349 requires the product to be proven and in service with either the country of origin or at least 2 foreign countries.
Second is that Turkiye has not been supportive in the Philippine Government's policies in the West Philippine Sea and on China.
 |
| The Yavuz 155mm SPH. Photo credits to EDR Magazine. |
It weights 27 tonnes, is 11.3 meters long and has a crew of up to 5 men.
It has not been adapted by any country yet, although Malaysia is likely to acquire it for their own requirement, with testing already underway. Price is said to be very competitive, and their ability to deliver appears to be good as well.
Also like Turkiye, Slovakia has not made any supportive stance towards the Philippines' policy in the West Philippine Sea and on China, and does not even have a physical embassy in the Philippines which could also affect its selection.
 |
| The EVA M2. Photo credits to KONSTRUKTA-Defence. |
3. The Camion Équipé d'un Système d'Artillerie (CAESAR) Mk.II 6x6 from France-German consortium KNDS. It is the latest version of the CAESAR used by France and many other countries, and is now mounted on a new 6x6 truck from France's Arquus (aka Renault Trucks Defense).
Its weight is around 18 to 19 tonnes although its full load combat weight is around 26.7 tonnes, and is 10 meters long.
The French CAESAR appears to be one of the closest to the ATMOS in terms of design and operation. The Mk. I is already in service with both Thailand and Indonesia, although there have been questions on Renault/Arquus' presence in the Philippines to support the truck platform.
France is a country with close cooperation on defense and security, supporting the Philippines in its WPS policies, while is also in the works for potentially having a Visiting Forces Agreement-like deal with the Philippines. In the eyes of the DND, this could be on the top of the potential replacement for ATMOS, although its higher cost might be an issue for the Philippine Army.
 |
| The 6x6 variant of the CAESAR Mk. II artillery systems from KNDS. Photo credits to Army Recognition. |
It is larger than the ATMOS and other options and uses a new 8x8 truck platform from Tatra. The gun is a 155mm/45cal which is shorter than the 155mm/52cal used by the PA's ATMOS, although it fully automated and only needs a crew of 2 - driver and gun operator.
It weighs 29 tonnes, and is 13 meters long. The weight was not confirmed if it was combat weight, although we believe it is not.
The DITA is currently in use with Ukraine and Azerbaijan, which allows it to meet Philippine procurement and AFP modernization laws.
The Czech Republic is another supporter of the Philippines in upholding international rules-based order and in preserving sovereign rights over our EEZ, while also having a Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Philippines on defense procurement. This would be beneficial to Excalibur Army's bid.
The main issue with the DITA is its huge size and weight, due to the use of an 8x8 truck and large turret.
 |
| The DITA 155mm SPH. Photo credits to Excalibur Army. |
5. As an alternative to DITA, Excalibur Army also offered the newer MORANA which uses a 155mm/52cal gun. The difference with DITA is the platform, position of gun turret, having a 3 man crew instead of 2, and other features.
As with the DITA, an issue its heavy weight which was said to be at 36 tonnes, and large size as the vehicle measures 13.2 meters.
Another issue is that the MORANA has not been acquired by any military including the Czech Army, so it could be a problem when meeting Philippine procurement laws and the Revised AFP Modernization law.
 |
| The MORANA 155mm SPH also from Excalibur Army. Photo credits to EDR Magazine. |
MaxDefense's Opinion:
Both the Yavuz and MORANA do not have any users at the moment, which might be an issue with regards to meeting Philippine laws. The same can be said with the EVA M2, as officially it still is not in service also with any country despite Malaysia already selecting it after conducting tests.
Turkiye's lack of support on the Philippines' stance in the West Philippine Sea might not place the Yavuz at the backburner considering it is competing with artillery systems from countries that support the Philippines' issues with China. Slovakia may also have the same problem.
So far, only the CAESAR and the DITA meets procurement laws, as well as both France and the Czech Republic meeting the DND's policies on preference to acquire from countries that have common interests as the Philippines.
CAESAR Mk. II is expected to be expensive being a French product compared to the DITA, but having a 45 caliber gun instead of 52 caliber could be an issue, as well as being heavier and longer than both the CAESAR and the ATMOS which could be detrimental to its selection.
The EVA M2 appears to be the dark horse as there were reports that it is a baseline being used by the Philippine Army's TWG, if the DND will forego of its shortcomings in terms of political issues.
It remains to be seen though which one will be chosen, as signs would be there once negotiation starts.
============
U P D A T E S:
============
===============
===============
First edit and release: 25 March 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource
No comments