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Paladin M109A6 is a cannon artillery system developed by the Ground System Division of United Defense L.P. and manufactured at the Paladin Production Operation centre at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Paladin was first fielded in 1994 and is operational with the United States Army and the Israeli Army, and has been selected by the Kuwaiti Defence Ministry. In June 1999, the US Army received the last of 950 Paladin M109A6 ordered. However a further 7 systems were ordered in July 2000 for the US Army National Guard.
Paladin is operated by a crew of four, a commander, driver, gunner and loader. Paladin is able to operate independently with no external technical assistance. The crew are able to receive mission data via a secure voice and digital communications system, compute the firing data, automatically unlock the cannon from the travel lock, point the cannon and fire, and move to a new location without external technical assistance. Paladin M109A6 fires the first round from the move in under 60 seconds. The "shoot and scoot" capability protects the crew from counterbattery fire. ARMAMENT The 39 calibre 155 mm M284 cannon which is fitted with an M182 gun mount, has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds. The projectile loading can be carried out using the full stroke hydraulic system, or a semi-automatic loading system is optional. Paladin M109A6 achieves a maximum firing rate of up to 8 rounds per minute or 3 rounds per 15 seconds, and a sustained firing rate of 1 round per three minutes. The gun is operated with an automatic fire control system with ballistic computer, fitted with an optical backup. The vehicle's inertial positioning and navigation system is integrated with the automatic fire control system. A 12.7 mm M2 machine gun is mounted on the right hand side of the turret. SELF-PROTECTION The crew remains in the vehicle throughout the mission. Protection against nuclear, chemical and biological warfare is installed with individual crew protection systems with temperature controlled (hot and cold) air. The turret is fitted with Kevlar spall suppression lining for additional ballistic protection. COMMUNICATIONS The Paladin is equipped with a secure voice and digital communications suite including the VIC-1 Intercom, VRC-89 or the SINCGARS single channel ground and airborne radio subsystem. PROPULSION The Paladin vehicle is powered by a 2 cycle diesel, 440 horsepower, DDEC 8V71T engine from Detroit Diesel Corporation, and an Allison ATD-XTG-411-4 transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The suspension system is based on high strength torsion bars with high capacity shock absorbers. The vehicle has a range of 214 miles with a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour. The electrical power supply is rated at 650 amps, 24 volts DC. |
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  Paladin M109A6 achieves a maximum firing rate of up to 8 rounds per minute and a sustained firing rate of 1 round per three minutes. | |
 An M109A6 Paladin SPH. | ||||
 Paladin M109A6 and support vehicle. | ||||
 The M109A6 Paladin has been selected by the Kuwaiti Defence Ministry. | ||||
 The M284 cannon which is fitted with an M182 gun mount, has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds. | ||||
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