TALLINN. Nov 16 (Interfax) - The United States delivered two more M109A6 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery systems to Estonia on Sunday; the systems will remain there until early December.
In all, more than ten pieces of military hardware, including Paladin M992s, designed to deliver ammunition, have been delivered to date, said a spokesperson for the general staff of the Estonian Defence Forces.
They will be used by Company A of the 3rd Battalion of the 69th Armor Regiment of the First Armor Brigade of the First Infantry Division, which will also conduct a live-firing drill in Estonia.
Paladin M109 are self-propelled howitzers made in the U.S. during the Cold War, which were used in the war in Vietnam and subsequently underwent several upgrades. The upgraded Paladin M109A6 systems entered service in the U.S. in 1994 and were used for the first time during the war in Iraq 2003.
The system is fitted with a 155-millimeter M284 howitzer with a 30-kilometer firing range. The team is four-member: commander, driver, aimer and charger. The vehicle weighs 29 tonnes, can develop a speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour and travel over 300 kilometers between refuelings.