The AS-90 replaced Britain’s older Abbot and imported M109-era systems with a modern 155 mm tracked howitzer designed for Royal Artillery support of armored and mechanized formations.
AS-90. Primary reference image for this archive profile. Source date: 2023-05-24 10:34.Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK; CC BY-SA 2.0Image source
Rolearmored brigade artillery support
Main weapon / system155 mm L31 39-calibre gun
Platform / layoutpurpose-built tracked chassis with fully enclosed turret
MediaPrimary image integrated
Development and design
The vehicle combines a purpose-built tracked chassis with a fully traversing turret and automated loading assistance. Its 155 mm NATO-standard gun and digital fire-control integration reflected the shift toward faster fire missions and rapid displacement. 1, 2
Operational use
AS-90 has equipped British field artillery regiments since the 1990s and has been deployed on operations and exercises with armored formations. The system remains a central reference point in Britain’s transition toward its next mobile-fires generation. 1, 2
Role and significance
Its significance lies in completing the British move to 155 mm self-propelled artillery while preserving the protected tracked mobility required to operate close to heavy maneuver brigades. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
Representative source set used for this profile. Primary image source and reuse terms are listed with the image.
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