Switzerland has signed a contract to procure a new artillery system that will replace its ageing fleet of M109 armoured howitzers, weapons whose design dates back to the 1960s, in the most significant modernisation of the Swiss Army’s ground-based firepower in decades.
The Swiss Armed Forces’ current artillery system with the armoured howitzer M109 from the 1960s is nearing the end of its useful life.
The Federal Office for Defence Procurement, armasuisse, signed the contract on 8 June 2026 with German manufacturer KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG. The deal covers the AGM Artillery Gun Module system, mounted on the Piranha IV wheeled carrier platform built by Swiss manufacturer GDELS-Mowag.
What Is Being Procured?
The contract covers one prototype and 32 series systems, along with a broad supporting package including ammunition logistics infrastructure, training and simulation systems, spare parts, documentation and tools. A first tranche of modern projectiles, detonators and ammunition is also included, which armasuisse says will deliver greater precision, improved effect on target and a longer maximum range compared with current Swiss Army ammunition.
A prototype configured to Swiss Armed Forces specifications is scheduled for completion in 2027, with formal qualification trials to follow in 2028. Delivery of the series production systems to operational units is due to begin in 2031.
Why the M109 Is Being Replaced?
The M109 howitzer has been in Swiss Army service for decades and is now approaching the end of its operational lifespan. The new AGM system is designed to address several of its limitations simultaneously: it will be more mobile, offer improved crew protection, fire further and more accurately, and be capable of relocating position quickly after firing, a critical tactical requirement on a modern battlefield to avoid counter-battery fire.
The system will also operate on a networked basis, integrating modern sensor analysis, digital command-and-control and automated processes to increase response speed and operational effectiveness.
Switzerland Orders 32 New Artillery Systems After A Long Evaluation Process
The procurement did not happen quickly. Armasuisse launched a multi-stage evaluation in 2022, beginning with a shortlist decision in August of that year. This was followed by mobility trials in Switzerland and field trials and logistical investigations abroad. The AGM on Piranha IV was formally selected as the winning system in November 2024.
The choice of the Piranha IV as the carrier platform is significant beyond its technical merits. GDELS-Mowag, headquartered in Kreuzlingen in the canton of Thurgau, is a long-established Swiss defence manufacturer, and its involvement ensures that a portion of the contract’s added value is generated domestically.
The procurement is framed by the Federal Council’s Armament Policy Strategy of 20 June 2025, which calls for strengthening cooperation with suppliers from neighbouring and other European states while simultaneously reinforcing Switzerland’s own industrial defence capabilities. The AGM contract is presented as delivering both objectives at once: a German weapons module on a Swiss-built platform, combining European security cooperation with Swiss industrial participation.
The project, formally titled “Artillery weapons platform and ammunition 2026” (Art WPWM), was presented to parliament as part of the Armed Forces Dispatch 2025.
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