The Army is seeking an existing or user-adapted solution to fill a capability gap caused by the XM1299’s termination. The current M109 howitzer series is now seen as offering limited combat capabilities, particularly due to its short 39-calibre barrel compared to systems used by other NATO forces.
The earlier procurement process was suspended following the launch of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), introduced at the request of Donald Trump’s administration. ATI involved a review of ongoing defence programmes to identify cost-saving opportunities without significantly harming operational readiness.
According to the RFI, the Army emphasised that the request is “for informational purposes only” and that “the information contained in this RFI is subject to change and in no way binds the U.S. Government.” This indicates the procurement process has returned to an early exploratory phase.
Interested companies must submit responses by 10 October, including details on supply chains, lists and locations of U.S.-based and non-North American subcontractors, and proposals for relocating production to the United States, if not already based there. Submissions must also cover barrel production, identify potential industry partners, and outline delivery timelines for one and six howitzers.
Should the RFI lead to procurement of trial units, the howitzers would be tested by brigades participating in the Transformation in Contact (TiC) initiative. TiC is intended to accelerate the testing of new weapons systems for potential adoption by the U.S. Army through hands-on operational evaluation.
