Switzerland selects 10×10 Piranha IV with Artillery Gun Module to replace M109 SPHs

Armasuisse has selected the AGM mounted on a 10×10 Piranha IV armoured vehicle to replace Switzerland's ageing M109 SPHs. (VBS-DDPS)

The Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) announced in a press release on 5 November that armasuisse, the Federal Office for Defence Procurement, has selected the Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 Artillery Gun Module (AGM) system mounted on a 10×10 Piranha IV armoured vehicle to replace Switzerland's ageing M109 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs).

A request will be submitted to the Swiss parliament to procure the system under Armeebotschaft (Armed Forces Message) 2025. An armasuisse spokesperson told Janes on 6 November that the CHF725 million (USD829 million) procurement foreseen by Armeebotschaft 2025 includes further deliveries and a logistic package. He said the number of systems and delivery schedule are to be defined by Armeebotschaft 2025 but that 32 SPHs are foreseen.

With the M109s' service life coming to an end in the coming years, the Swiss Armed Forces initiated the project to replace them. With the project contract signed in 2019, project management was handed over to armasuisse, which was tasked with evaluating a system based on a wheeled platform for medium-range indirect fire support, integration of Swiss Armed Forces' communication, command, and fire control systems; training and simulation systems; logistics; and an initial supply of ammunition.