Editing M109A6 Paladin (section)

==History==
Class: Self-Propelled Gun</br>
Developed: 1991</br>
Service: 1991+</br>
Vehicles Built: 992</br>
Operators: USA, Saudi Arabia

The M109A6 Paladin is the last mass-produced service version of the venerable M109. It was produced between 1991 and 1999 with 992 vehicles built. Compared to the older versions of the M109 series the Paladin is equipped with a sophisticated fire control and localization system. This heavily modernized element allows it to rapidly aim – a Paladin can fire within 60 seconds from coming to full halt. This ability helps to protect the Paladin from counter-battery fire. Additionally the Paladin can fire very advanced ammunition such as the M982 Excalibur ultra-precise extended range round that allows the Paladin to perform even danger close fire missions. The upgraded M284 howitzer has a sustained rate of fire of around 4 rounds per minute and the maximum range with special ammunition is over 30 kilometers.

The M109A6 Paladin – or, rather the M109 series in general – was not supposed to be serving this long and numerous replacements were developed at one point or another by the U.S. military. However the failures to produce a suitable replacement prolonged the service of this venerable vehicle family to the 21st century. While a successful export item, the Paladin was lately replaced by several notable militaries by competing projects, the British AS90 and the German Panzerhaubitze 2000. Nevertheless an upgrade of the Paladin for the U.S. Army (the M109A7, built on the Bradley chassis) was already approved and so the M109 series will continue to serve, possibly for decades to come.