ATMOS - The Next Big Scandal?

So recently 2 big decisions regarding the cannon artillery of the IDF were made. The first being the cancellation of the bid and a single-source buy, and the other being a purchase of 18 howitzers, which is 3 batteries worth of firepower. 

Let the rant begin:

Background

The IDF has been operating the M109 howitzer for 4 decades now. To put into perspective, Israel's legacy of using the M109 started way back in the Yom Kippur War. 

During the service life of the M109 in Israel, the IDF developed 4 generations of an indigenous tank, assimilated 2 generations of warplanes, and 3 generations of surface ships. 

Through the years, the M109 has been upgraded to the M109A5 standard, and then to the Doher standard, which includes installation of new navigation systems, fire control systems, and general life extension upgrades. Nothing major.

Supposedly, the IDF wasn't meant to receive the later versions, and intended to purchase the Sholef. An artillery vehicle weighing ~70-80 tons that in its time was second to none. Sported a very small crew of 4, a range of 41km, and a fully automatic loading system with an impressive rate of fire, all in a highly armored package.

Budget constraints killed this wonder of a weapon.

Sholef based on Merkava 3 chassis

Starting as far back as 2006, the IDF has been slowly searching for a replacement for the legendary antique called M109, however the low budget caused delays in the process, leading a program that was supposed to end several years ago, to only begin soon. 

The IDF requests for an MRSI capability (unspecified amount of rounds), a 40km range, and precision fire capability. 

The Options

The bidding companies are Elbit as single source, IMI+Rheinmetall, and IAI+KMW

Elbit offers the ATMOS 2000, IMI offers a thorough modernization of the M109, and IAI offers a Bradley chassis (M270) on which KMW's Artillery Gun Module will be installed.

ATMOS 2000 (Elbit)

Starting development almost 2 decades ago, the ATMOS was meant for the export market as a high end solution in a cheap package with intentionally limited capabilities. The ATMOS originally lacks an autoloader and is based on a truck. Basically a mini version of any modern capability. 

Offered a modest MRSI of 3, an optional semi-autoloading system, or full autoloading system.

Despite being sold only on 6x6 and 8x8 truck chassis, Elbit says the ATMOS is a modular package that can be installed on any type of platform and configured in tiers according to the requested capabilities. 

ATMOS in its most recent version

It also comes with 3 options for the cannon - L/39, L/45, L/52.

M109I7 'Spark' (IMI+Rheinmetall)

The consortium offers to take either existing or newly delivered M109 platforms, to the modern standard of L/52 guns, which the IDF requests. The upgrade includes a wide range of improvements including an automatic loading system, new navigation system, new gun laying system allowing autonomy, and a reduced crew.

More information can be found here.

M109I7 computer simulation by IMI

The M109I7 upgrade is said to cost 20% of the PzH 2000, but offer 90% of its capabilities.

However, much of its limitations remain, and thus despite the upgrade, it will remain with a rather slow Rate of Fire, a long shoot&scoot cycle, an above average crew size, and its potential for future upgrades will be limited.

M270 AGM (IAI+KMW)

Perhaps the most unique of the three, the consortium offers to place KMW's Artillery Gun Module on the chassis on which the M270 MLRS is made. The AGM is completely modular and can be placed in its entirety on a vast array of platforms. It contains within it a medium stock of ammunition (30), a fully automatic loading system, and operates autonomously when the crew is inside their cabin at the front of the vehicle.

AGM mounted on Bradley chassis

The AGM aims to bring most of the PzH2000's capabilities in a smaller, modular package.
Choosing the Bradley as a platform, the IDF is thus offered a unique benefit of creating a chassis commonality within the artillery corps. 

The consortium also offers to locate the production at the choosing of the IDF, including the USA. Meaning the IDF could purchase it for almost free, using the aid money.

Current Status

The IDF however, decided to cancel the bid, thus eliminating IAI, IMI, Rheinmetall, and KMW, and going with a single source buy from Elbit, purchasing its ATMOS system.

IAI CEO plans to speak in front of MAFAT to reverse the decision.

The more alarming news is that the IDF intends to purchase 18 units of the ATMOS, fortifying its decision that a single source buy from Elbit is the best decision.

Normally, I would promote that, knowing that it saves a considerable amount of money since the only problem at the moment is budgetary. However the IDF intends to buy the truck-based version of the ATMOS, despite its clear interest in a tracked platform. 

Possible Alternative

Simply put - Revive the Sholef. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Sholef was not economically viable in the late 70's because the industry was still not ready for such a challenge (barely started producing Merkavas), and the economy was still very small and weak, having to deal with another expensive project named Lavi.

But today the Sholef is indeed economically viable. Even more so, it is economically ideal. The Merkava has evolved since the days of the Sholef, and is now, more than ever, suitable for such a task.

The armor is completely modular - No more needless chunks of steel providing unnecessary tank tier protection. It can be reconfigured to meet the lower standards, thus removing a great deal of weight without any effort.

The engine is strong enough - The Merkava 1/2 had a fairly weak engine of 908hp. Now the Sholef can use either the cheap but highly reliable engine of the Merkava 3, or the more expensive but more powerful engine of the Merkava 4.

So why is the Sholef a better alternative to the ATMOS?

Answer: Space, crew, future-proof. 

Truck based solutions are very limited in their carrying capacity. A modern artillery piece needs rather heavy equipment which mainly includes an automatic loading system coupled with a high store of ammo (50+). A Merkava based solution, or alternatively, an Eitan based solution, would offer the ability to use a fully automatic loading system fed with a large amount of ammo and a drastically reduced crew.

The IDF places an emphasis on man power in its current Gideon multi-year plan, which means man-power must be cut down from 7-9 crewmen of the M109 Doher, to an optimal 4-5. It won't happen with the ATMOS's 6-man crew.

Ideal Situation

The IDF would ideally purchase Merkava-based ATMOS systems, imitating the Sholef, replace the Alfa ammo carriers with Eitan-based vehicles, and purchase the ATHOS towed artillery with its semi-automatic loading system.

Sadly, the likelihood of this ever happening is slim.