The Ultralightweight Field Howitzer (UFH), designated M777A1 in the USA, was selected in 1997 by a joint US Army / Marine Corps initiative to replace the existing inventory of M198 155mm towed howitzers. The first of five EMD systems was delivered in June 2000. The US Marine Corps is to procure 380 systems and the US Army 273 systems. A Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for 94 systems was awarded in November 2002. Operational testing with the USMC, during which nearly 12,000 artillery rounds were fired by four production systems, was completed in December 2004. A contract for full-rate production of 495 systems was awarded to BAE Systems in April 2005 with deliveries to begin in late 2006. The British Army is also expected to order 65 systems and the Italian Army 70 systems.
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