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United States BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems)
M777 Howitzer
Ultra-lightweight titanium-and-aluminum towed 155 mm howitzer designed for helicopter and airlift mobility, used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps and extensively supplied to Ukraine.
In service since 2005 · 8 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
155
mm gun
4,218
kg
💲 ≈ $3,700,000, Approximate unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Established · 8 operators
In service since 2005. Status: active · ~1,500 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$9.3M – $13M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~25 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. Published studies put O&S anywhere from ~55% to ~70% of lifecycle cost depending on platform and method, which is why this is a band and not a single number. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
Competitive field
56 comparable systems from 25 other manufacturers
Counted in the WeaponSpecs database: artillery systems built by another manufacturer. A count of what this catalog holds, not a survey of the whole market. See the alternatives →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 5 rpm |
|---|
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 155 mm M777 howitzer |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 155 mm |
| Max firing range Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach. | 40 km |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 10.7 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 4,218 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 8 |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $3,700,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1,500 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 8 |
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Uralvagonzavod TOS-1A Solntsepyok 
MKE T-155 Fırtına Frequently asked questions
How much does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer weigh? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer has a combat weight of 4,218 kg.
How many crew does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer require? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer requires a crew of 8.
What is the main armament of the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer's primary weapon is the 155 mm M777 howitzer.
How many countries operate the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer is operated by 8 countries.
How much does the BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer cost? +
The BAE Systems Inc. (US Land Systems) M777 Howitzer has an approximate unit cost of 3,700,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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Related coverage
M777 Howitzer in the news
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The Army Picked a Howitzer That Doesn't Exist Yet
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