Two units of the Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) 155mm self-propelled guns on stand-by at the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters in Jamindan town, Capiz province. (Photo courtesy of PA)
MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) has deployed two brand-new units of the Israeli-made Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) 155mm self-propelled guns to the Capiz-based 3rd Infantry Division.
Army Spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement on Tuesday, said the deployment of these new weapons is aimed at "bolstering the division's capability in neutralizing internal threats."
"These assets will bolster our internal security operations and will largely contribute to the dismantling of the CTG (Communist Terrorist Group) in Western and Central Visayas," 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Marion Sison said.
The two ATMOS 155mm self-propelled guns arrived at the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters in Jamindan town last April 23.
These weapons have a maximum range of 41 kilometers depending on the type of ammunition used and have a target precision of 10 to 50 kilometers.
Trinidad said the PA received 12 units of the said self-propelled guns from the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems in December 2021.
These were procured under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Plan for PHP2.4 billion.
Trinidad earlier said the ATMOS 155mm self-propelled guns are "easily deployed even in rugged terrain and truck-mounted guns not towed."
He added that these new weapons have a maximum range of 41 kilometers depending on the type of ammunition used and have "target precision of up to 10-kilometer radius."
"The weapon incorporates an 'inertial navigation system' (INS)-based gun-laying method and an automatic loader," he added.
The ATMOS 155mmm howitzer system would augment the existing 155mm towed-howitzers being operated by the Army Artillery Regiment. (PNA)
