Philippines unveils new ATMOS 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers, M125A2 120mm Amored Mortar Carriers

Two of the Philippine Army's new ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers. Photo c/o Philippine Army.

The Philippine Army (PA) has presented its new artillery assets to the local press as part of the service’s 125th founding anniversary on 22 March 2022.

Among those showcased are the new Soltam ATMOS 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, and the M125A2 120mm Armored Mortar Carrier, both of which were delivered to the Philippine Army in late 2021.

Both artillery systems were acquired by the Philippine Army from Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, under two separate contracts.

The Philippine Army ordered 12 units of ATMOS 155mm SPH including other support vehicles and equipment, ammunition, logistics support and training in 2019 under a PHP2.386 billion (US$48 million) contract, with the systems to be assigned with the Philippine Army's Artillery Regiment.

Another order for 15 units of M125A2 120mm Armored Mortar Carriers equipped with the Soltam Cardom 120mm recoil mortar system was made also in 2019 under a PHP1.094 billion (US$22 million) deal, and will be assigned with the Philippine Army's Armor Division.

Both systems are expected to improve the indirect fire support capabilities of the Philippine Army, as it starts to transition from a counter-insurgency force to one that can address territorial defense.

According to Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the ATMOS 155mm SPH is the self-propelled artillery system in the Philippine Army in more than 60 years, as it previously operated World War 2-era M7 Priest 105mm self-propelled guns in the 1950s.

The Philippine Army also have 5 existing M113-based armored mortar carriers equipped with the 81mm variant of the Soltam Cardom recoil mortar system.




[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] Philippine Defense Resource
[3] Philippine Army