The Army has pulled the plug on its Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program. The project, launched in 2018, aimed to develop a new self-propelled howitzer with a longer firing range. However, after encountering technical difficulties during testing, the Army decided to cut its losses and move on to other options.
The ERCA program aimed to extend the range of artillery fire from 30 kilometers to 70 kilometers (43.5 miles). This would have given the Army a significant advantage on the battlefield. Unfortunately, the new design, which featured a 30-foot gun tube mounted on a Paladin M109 chassis, experienced problems during live-fire testing. These issues prevented the ERCA from reaching its projected range and forced the Army to abandon the project.
Even though the ERCA program met with cancellation, the Army is still committed to developing long-range artillery capabilities. They are likely to explore alternative designs and technologies to meet their future needs via their $55 million FY25 budget request for an extended-range cannon capability.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began his career at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet became central to defense research, he helped design the company’s Forecast Intelligence Center and now coordinates the FI Market Recap newsletters for clients. He also manages two blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, which covers defense systems and international security issues, and Flight Plan, focused on commercial aviation and space systems.
For more than 30 years, Richard has authored Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International), providing detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database tracking all companies involved in programs covered by the FI library. Richard currently serves as Manager of the Information Services Group (ISG), which develops outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
