YUMA PROVING GROUND, AZ-- For more than 40 years, variants of the M109 Paladin have been the most potent self-propelled howitzers in the Army's arsenal, able to rapidly deliver a punishing barrage of steel downrange across a wide range of battlefields, from the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Iraq.
Across the decades, the Paladin has undergone seven major changes, all of which were tested at Yuma Proving Ground. The Paladin remains the most common self-propelled artillery platform in the world, with variants in the inventories of the United States and more than twenty friendly foreign nations.
Though the M109A7 or Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) variant, which boasts a slew of upgrades and significant parts compatibility with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, will eventually replace the entire fleet of M109A6 variants, the transition will take years to fully accomplish, and the Army intends to keep the remaining A6s battle-ready in the meantime. Having seen harsh use in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, the more badly battered of the A6 fleet are being sent to an Army depot in Anniston, Al., for complete refurbishment. As the vehicles are completed, some are selected to undergo punishing testing at YPG.
"In Anniston, they completely strip them down to their bare hulls, rebuild them to pretty much as new, and send them here for testing," said Chris Lesko, test officer. "They don't know which one we're going to pull randomly off the line to evaluate."
The reconditioned Paladins are put through their paces for thousands of miles across Yuma Proving Ground's punishing road courses and fording basins, all while sophisticated instrumentation monitors the vehicle's internal components. All mechanical problems and even minor irregularities like a slightly elevated engine temperature or oil pressure are meticulously recorded. The platform's 155mm cannon is also fired hundreds of times at different elevations and powder charges at a proving ground gun position as observers monitor the projectile's exit with high speed cameras and track its flight to impact with both radar and human observers. These test fires are not meant as gentle use, but to ensure the accuracy and performance Soldiers will likely depend on for survival in combat.
Further, testers say data gathered on the performance of the reconditioned A6is applicable to its successor.
"They collect data and leverage it to the M109A7 project," said Ramon Moreno, test officer.
The presence of skilled mechanics capable of rapidly repairing combat vehicles in large, modern facilities and the significant institutional knowledge YPG testers have of both the A6 and A7 variants of the platform are additional draws. Further, YPG's flexibility in testing complex platforms that require interdepartmental cooperation makes it stand out as a premier testing center.
"The experience and knowledge we have attracts customers to YPG and makes sure each individual test is performed correctly, accurately, and in a timely manner," said Moreno.
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