The Latvian Ministry of Defence has confirmed the delivery of six self-propelled M109 howitzers and ammunition to Ukrainian forces to support their defense against the Russian invasion.
The systems have already been deployed in the warzone. In an August 15 tweet, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said the howitzers “are already showing results on the battlefield.”
Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers authorized the decision to provide the weapon systems on July 28.
“Ukraine must receive support from the rest of Europe continuously” Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks said. “This is an effective gift, because thanks to the support provided by the allies so far, Ukrainian soldiers already know how to handle these devices and can use them for defense immediately.”
The M109A5Oe Howitzer
The M109A5Oe is a 155-millimeter semiautomatic artillery system that fires up to 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) with conventional ammunition and up to 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) with special ammunition. It is equipped with an inertial navigation system, electrical system, and an artillery fire control system.
The howitzer can fire within a minute of receiving an order and can be operated quickly on an active battlefield, leaving a position just 30 seconds after firing.