Brazil Selects Israeli ATMOS as Winner of the 155 mm Artillery Competition

The Brazilian Army (Exército Brasileiro) has chosen Israel-made ATMOS as the official winner of the of the VBCOAP 155 SR competition.

This information was first reported by SA Defensa on social media platform X.

Elbit Systems’ ATMOS (Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System), a 155mm/52 caliber self-propelled howitzer, was chosen over competitors such as the French CAESAR, Slovakian Zuzana 2, and Chinese SH-15 to secure the contract. Developed by Soltam Systems (now part of Elbit Systems), the ATMOS is mounted on either a 6x6 or 8x8 high-mobility truck chassis, offering flexibility with various gun barrels and NATO standard 155mm ammunition.

The ATMOS features a range of ammunition options, including High Explosive (HE), Base Bleed (BB) for extended range, smoke rounds for battlefield obscuration, Illumination rounds for night operations, cluster munitions, and Anti-Tank rounds, targeting both personnel and armored vehicles.

The ATMOS is equipped with a fully automated laying and loading system, significantly improving its rate of fire. It can discharge three rounds in 15 seconds in burst mode and sustain a fire rate of 2 rounds per minute for an hour. With extended-range ammunition, it can achieve a maximum firing range of 41 km.

Designed for rapid deployment and redeployment, the ATMOS supports 'shoot and scoot' tactics essential in modern warfare. It incorporates advanced fire control, navigation, automatic laying, and aiming systems to ensure precision and operational efficiency. The system prioritizes crew protection with a fully armored cabin and gun, providing defense against small arms fire and shell fragments, and includes a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system.

The Brazilian Army's acquisition of the ATMOS represents a strategic upgrade to their artillery capabilities, complementing their existing arsenal that includes systems like the ASTROS II multiple rocket launcher by Avibras Indústria Aeroespacial, the M109A5 self-propelled howitzer, and the Gepard anti-aircraft system.