MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Russian troops obliterated two US-made M777 howitzers in the Kharkov Region, a Ukrainian Akatsiya artillery system in the Kherson Region and a Grad multiple rocket launcher in the Lugansk People’s Republic in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.
"In counter-battery fire, two US-made M777 artillery systems were destroyed in the area of the settlement of Kolesnikovka in the Kharkov Region. In addition, a Ukrainian Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun was destroyed near the community of Mylovoye in the Kherson Region and a Ukrainian Grad multiple rocket launcher was obliterated near the settlement of Artyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.
The M777 is a 155mm towed howitzer developed by the UK-based defense firm, BAE Systems, which replaced the US Army’s heavier M198 artillery guns. The M777 can fire conventional shells at a distance of about 25 km and special munitions at a range of 40 km.
The howitzer features a high-precision digital fire control system (Towed Artillery Digitization) that uses GPS and drone data for directing the weapon at the target. The gun’s upgraded A2 version can fire M982 Excalibur guided shells with an extended flight range.
The M777 howitzer is used by the ground forces of the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. The howitzer was first employed in combat during the war in Afghanistan.
The US, Canadian and Australian militaries earlier reported the delivery of M777 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine.