Israel has effectively begun replacing its aging M109 self-propelled artillery with its own latest wheeled SPH, the Sigma 155 Roem from Elbit Systems.
Ynetnews reported delivery of the first operational SPH to military forces. Defense Express clarifies that information about receiving this SPH and even combat use of the Sigma 155 Roem in summer 2024 evidently concerned experimental or trial operations.
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But now, as the publication notes, development of this SPH that started in 2019 is complete, and the country's army is set to conduct the first official exercises with this artillery system soon. It's also indicated that the Israeli army will receive subsequent SPHs by summer, with the unit first armed with Sigma 155 Roem identified as the 405th Battalion of the 282nd Golan Artillery Brigade.
The Sigma 155 Roem represents modern automated 155mm SPHs with 52-caliber barrel length and reduced three-person crew. According to known characteristics though Elbit Systems hasn't officially published them it objectively reached the level of Sweden's Archer, also an automated wheeled SPH of 155/52 standard with three crew members.
Specifically, the Israeli system's rate of fire figures at 8 rounds per minute, tangentially matching the officially announced initial 3 rounds in 20 seconds and 21 rounds in 3 minutes for the Swedish system. Setup and pack-up times are also similar 30 and 20 seconds respectively. However, the Roem's ammunition load exceeds Archer's 40 versus 21 rounds. It's also quite possible the Israeli SPH is significantly heavier, using a 10x10 chassis from Oshkosh rather than 6x6 from Volvo or 8x8 from RMMV.
Meanwhile, beyond paper characteristics are no less important operational ones practical accuracy, fire control system effectiveness, barrel and autoloader lifespan, etc. Regarding all these parameters, they may not become publicly known at all.
But for the IDF in any case, transitioning to Sigma 155 Roem will be a huge leap forward from M109. Meanwhile, nobody plans to scrap the latter; they're to be transferred to reserve units and kept combat-ready in case of major war.
Also, for the IDF, transitioning to the automated Sigma 155 Roem SPH beyond increased range, speed, and fire controllability solves another critically important task: demographics. The M109 has a seven-person crew, while the new SPH has three. Moreover, the possibility emerges to form all-female SPH crews, since there's no need to haul 40kg shells (the IDF doesn't practice mixed crews), which determines firing rate as on M109.
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