ATMOS 2000

The ATMOS is fitted with a 155 mm/52 calibre ordnance which conforms to NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU), and is mounted on a 6 × 6 cross-country truck chassis. The breech mechanism is horizontal sliding which automatically opens to the right with a self-sealing metal obturating ring. The buffer is a hydraulic cylinder with a hydro-pneumatic recuperator, and the recoil length is variable from 850 to 1,100 mm. Two pneumatic equilibrators balance the barrel, weapon elevation and traverse are all hydraulic and computer controlled. The gun's aiming gears, load assist systems and spades are operated by a hydraulic power pack. With a 155 mm/52 barrel, a 41 km maximum range can be achieved, using Extended Range Full-Bore - Base Bleed (ERFB-BB) projectile,[1] 30 km firing the NATO L15 High Explosive (HE) projectile and 24.5 km firing the older M107 HE projectile.

The ATMOS 2000 carries a total of 27 155 mm projectiles and associated charges[2] and can be operated by a 4-man crew, consisting of two loaders positioned on either side at the rear. The system provides a rate of fire of between 4 and 9 rds/min.

52 calibre ATROM system

Late in 2001, Soltam Systems released details of the latest version of its ATMOS 2000 whose existence was first revealed late in 1999.[3] At that time, it was also referred to as the 155 mm Self-Propelled Wheeled Gun (SPWG). The ATMOS was developed as a private venture and is aimed mainly for export markets, although it has already been demonstrated to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Wheeled self-propelled guns are usually cheaper to procure than their more common tracked counterparts, have lower life cycle costs and are easier to operate and maintain. In addition, they also have greater strategic mobility and do not rely on Heavy Equipment Transporters (HETs). By late 2001, the system fired over 1,000 rounds, during extensive trials in Israel.

In mid-2003, an undisclosed export customer had placed a contract with the company worth USD5 million for an undisclosed batch of ATMOS 2000 systems. From late 2004 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out extensive field tests the ATMOS 155 mm/39 calibre system.[4]

• ATROM – Romanian version that uses the same Soltam M-17 155mm gun on a locally developed ROMAN 26.360 DFAEG 6x6 truck chassis.[5] The system never entered production and the project was put on hold after three prototypes were built.[6]
• AHS Kryl – Polish version on a Jelcz 663 armoured 6×6 chassis and integrating WB Electronics "Topaz" artillery fire control system. Production was planned for 2021, but never started.

• Archer – Swedish 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
• A-222E Bereg-E 130mm coastal mobile artillery system – Russian self-propelled
• 2S22 Bohdana – Ukrainian 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
• CAESAR self-propelled howitzer – French 155 mm artillery
• DANA – Czechoslovak self-propelled howitzerPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• G6 Rhino – South African 155 mm self-propelled artilleryPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Nora B-52 – Serbian 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
• PCL-09 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
• PCL-161 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
• PCL-181 – Chinese 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
• PLL-09 – Chinese wheeled armoured fighting vehicle family
• Type 19 155 mm Wheeled Self-propelled Howitzer – Japanese artillery
• 155mm SpGH ZUZANA – Slovak self-propelled gun-howitzerPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atmos 2000 self-propelled howitzers.

• ATMOS brochure on Elbit Systems web site

Video

• Video of ATMOS on YouTube