BAE SYSTEMS ramps up manufacturing facility for lightweight Howitzer
01 Mar 2002
BAE Systems has leased a manufacturing facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to build its XM777 Lightweight 155mm Howitzer. The 54,000 square foot facility will serve as the final assembly point for howitzers that will be delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army beginning in 2004 and continuing through 2010.
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said, "I was pleased to work with BAE Systems to secure this commitment. The company's investment speaks well of the assets which Mississippi can offer to both small and large companies seeking places for manufacturing, especially for products relating to military production which are enhanced by proximity to military installations and to vibrant communities such as Hattiesburg.""
The XM777 is a critical fire support component of the U.S. Marine Corps Marine Air Ground Task Forces and the U.S. Army Brigade Combat Teams and light divisions. More than 700 howitzers are expected to be built at the plant. Components for the howitzers will arrive at the Hattiesburg facility from various suppliers for assembly, and will then be test-fired at nearby Camp Shelby prior to delivery to the U.S. Department of Defense. Nearly 30 jobs will be created for the duration of the XM777 production contract.
The XM777 Lightweight 155mm Howitzer will replace the ageing M198 howitzers currently used by both the Marines and the Army. The XM777 weighs significantly less than the M198, offering improved transportability and mobility, while retaining the full ammunition and range capability of the M198.
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