AS90

The AS90 is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer which equips five field regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery.

Fitted with a standard barrel, the AS90 can fire a 44kg NATO standard projectile 24.7 km with a 146 AS90 guns in service with the British Army. AS90 is equipped with an autonomous navigation and gun laying system based on the vehicles inertial navigation system.

The AS90 is supported through a single CLS contract, the Equipment Support Agreement (ESA). This is a 5 year contract to which BAE Systems will supply spares and repairs on demand over the 5 years along with technical support. The objective of the ESA is to improve availability and reduce support costs.

The ESA was set up to ensure the MoD could continue to support AS90 in a cost effective manner and both parties are incentivised to save money, which is a step change from traditional fixed price contracts. This partnered approach is a strategic objective for both the MoD and BAE Systems. This ESA is the first of its kind in the Land domain and it is planned to expand the concept to other platforms in due course.