Moldova has
procured Israeli-made 155 mm ATMOS self-propelled howitzers, meeting NATO
standards, to replace its old Soviet-era D-30 and 2A36 Giatsint-B towed guns as
part of a military modernization program launched in response to rising
regional security threats.
The development came to light on 12 November, through videos shared on the Moldovan Ministry of Defense’s Facebook page, showing a live artillery exercise observed by Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi and Chief of General Staff Brigadier General Vitalie Micov. In the roughly 30-second clip, four ATMOS howitzers mounted on Tatra (6×6) wheeled chassis, along with a unit support and command vehicle, can be seen. However, it remains unclear to what extent these systems reflect the overall scope of the agreement between Chișinău and Elbit Systems.
Defense
Minister Anatolie Nosatîi said: “We appreciated the results obtained and the
enthusiasm of the soldiers during the exercise. We will continue the
modernization process with the same determination to have soldiers equipped at
current standards and an army prepared to fulfill its constitutional missions.”
The most recent publicly announced contract for the ATMOS system by the Israel-based company, valued at approximately 102 million USD, was signed in April 2023 with an unnamed international customer. If that customer is assumed to be Moldova, the deal would cover a battalion’s worth of Autonomous Truck-Mounted Howitzers (ATMOS), including training for military personnel and new ammunition, with deliveries scheduled over the next eight years.
ATMOS is a 155mm/52 caliber self-propelled howitzer system designed and manufactured by Soltam Systems, an Elbit Systems subsidiary. The system, based on the Soltam ATHOS 2052 towed howitzer, may be mounted on any high mobility 6×6 or 8×8 truck chassis. The main weapon of the system is the 155mm L52, which is considered one of the most powerful conventional guns. As secondary weapons, the vehicle can be outfitted with a 12.7mm machine gun and several smoke grenade launchers. An onboard electronic package, automatic laying system, and automatic loading system are also part of the artillery system. ATMOS has a maximum target range of 41km using Extended Range Full Bore Base Burn (ERFB-BB) shells and can fire all types of certified 155 mm ammunition used by NATO and other countries. The vehicle, which has a total carrying capacity of 32 shells, can fire between 4 and 9 rounds per minute. The artillery system’s cabin, which may be operated by a crew of 2-6 personnel depending on customer needs, is armored and can withstand small arms fire and shell fragments.
April 2022, students from the 1st and 2nd Self Propelled Batteries and Artillery Training School (ATS) under the Army Artillery Regiment, completed the 3-day Live Fire Exercise (Philippine Army)
In addition to Moldova, the ATMOS system is currently known to be in use by Denmark, Azerbaijan, Romania, Botswana, Cameroon, the Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, and Zambia. Brazil was also expected to acquire these artillery systems in 2024, but the project was suspended following Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.