La. Guard upgrades howitzers for enhanced lethality and mission readiness
By Capt. Peter Drasutis, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard’s 1-141st Field Artillery Battalion conducted critical software updates on the Digital Fire Control Systems and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems for their M119A3 and M777A2 howitzer systems at the LANG maintenance facilities at Camp Villere in Slidell, Louisiana, Dec. 5-8.
A howitzer is a large cannon that fires powerful rounds at distant targets, guided by precise calculations from the Fire Direction Center, which determines where and when to fire. To ensure seamless communication and optimal performance, the DFCS on the howitzers and the AFATDS in the FDC require simultaneous software updates. These updates improve the systems’ ability to process data quickly, coordinate effectively, and employ advanced munitions with precision.
In total, 12 M119A3s and six M777A2s received upgrades that enable the use of a wider range of advanced munitions and ensure compatibility with both Advanced System Improvement Program and Ethernet radios.
Contractors from Loyal Source Government Services, based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, assisted cannon crew members and fire direction specialists with implementing the upgrades, which are being fielded across all U.S. Army and Marine Corps howitzer platforms. They also provided training to Soldiers on proper maintenance and troubleshooting of the fire direction systems.
“The units are responsible for keeping their systems updated, but when additional support is needed, we’re here to help,” said Charles Stafford, team lead with Loyal Source Government Services. “Our team has traveled as far as Australia, Okinawa, and Norway – wherever there are howitzers. The goal is to train units to be self-sufficient in maintaining and troubleshooting these upgrades so they can operate effectively in any environment.”
Sgt. First Class Nicholas Donovan, platoon sergeant with B Battery, 1-141st Field Artillery Battalion, highlighted the practical benefits of the software updates.
“These upgrades give our cannon crews and fire direction teams what they need to hit targets more accurately and work more efficiently in the field,” said Donovan. “The new systems help us communicate faster and coordinate better. That makes us a stronger and more capable unit.”
Maintaining the LANG’s arsenal of modern howitzers is essential in today’s global climate, ensuring the capability to provide rapid, precise, and reliable artillery support for both conventional and hybrid warfare scenarios. These software upgrades are critical to the LANG’s readiness, enhancing interoperability, reducing response times, and providing a strategic advantage in addressing evolving threats while sustaining deterrence on a global scale.