Profile
- Type
- 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- United States; licensed development of the British L119 light gun
- Service note
- Entered U.S. service in 1989; M119A3 digitized variant type-classified in 2012
Artillery
M119
The M119 is the U.S. 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer derived from the British L119 light gun and built around air-mobile infantry fire support. The M119A3 variant adds digital fire control, self-location, and communications upgrades while retaining a light carriage that can be moved by trucks, cargo aircraft, or helicopter. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Ukrainian forces received 105 mm howitzers and were documented training on American M119A3 guns to add a mobile, NATO-standard light artillery option alongside heavier 155 mm systems.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Built in
- United StatesUnited Kingdom
Service History
- In service
- U.S. Army service from 1989; supplied to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War
- Used by
- Ukrainian Armed Forces, United States Army
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Production History
- Designer
- Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment; U.S. adaptation by Rock Island Arsenal
- Designed
- British L119 evaluated by the U.S. Army in 1985; M119 revised in 1986
- Built in
- United StatesUnited Kingdom
- Produced
- 1991-1997 for early M119 and M119A1 production at Rock Island Arsenal; later U.S. upgrades created M119A2/A3 configurations
- Number built
- 521 M119 and M119A1 howitzers manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal from 1991 to 1997
- Variants
- M119, M119A1, M119A2, M119A3
Specifications
- Caliber
- 105 mm
- Maximum range
- 14 km with unassisted ammunition; 19.5 km with rocket-assisted munitions
- Rate of fire
- Six rounds per minute
- Weight
- About 4,700 lb
- Mobility
- Air assault and airborne-drop capable; approved for UH-60, CH-47, C-130, C-17, and C-5 transport
- Fire control
- M119A3 digital fire control system with GPS-aided inertial navigation and digital gunner's display
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Ukrainian forces received U.S.-supplied 105 mm howitzers during 2022 security-assistance packages; defense reporting identified Ukrainian training on the supplied American M119A3 variant.
Related Weapon Systems
L118 Light Gun105 mm towed light howitzerThe L118 Light Gun is a British 105 mm towed artillery system built for mobile field artillery, airborne movement, and rapid emplacement. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Ukraine's directly sourced combat context is tied to the L119 variant of the same light-gun family, supplied by the United Kingdom and supported by allied training and maintenance.
M101 105 mm Howitzer105 mm towed field howitzerThe M101 is a U.S.-origin 105 mm towed field howitzer whose low weight, standard 105 mm ammunition, and simple split-trail carriage kept it useful long after World War II. In Ukraine, Lithuanian-donated M101A1 guns provide shorter-range tube artillery for infantry fire support where mobility, available ammunition, and survivable dispersed gun positions matter more than modern 155 mm range.
FH70155 mm towed howitzerThe FH70 is a jointly developed British-West German-Italian 155 mm L/39 towed howitzer with an auxiliary power unit for limited self-movement. In Ukrainian service it added another NATO-standard tube-artillery option alongside M777 and CAESAR systems, giving Ukrainian artillery units a 155 mm platform documented at the front from 2022.
MO-120 RT120 mm rifled towed heavy mortarThe MO-120 RT is a French 120 mm rifled towed heavy mortar developed by Brandt and later associated with TDA/Thales production. Its rifled barrel, two-wheel carriage, and rocket-assisted ammunition option give it longer range than many smoothbore infantry mortars, while remaining towable by light or medium vehicles. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Ukrainian forces received Belgian MO-120 RT mortars and used the type for front-line indirect fire support.
OTO Melara Mod 56105 mm towed pack howitzerThe OTO Melara Mod 56 is an Italian 105 mm pack howitzer built for light and mountain artillery, combining a low towing weight with a design that can be broken down into transportable loads. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears as a Spanish-supplied light artillery system for Ukrainian forces, trading range and shell weight for mobility and compatibility with 105 mm artillery ammunition.
Zuzana 2155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzerZuzana 2 is a Slovak 155 mm/52-caliber wheeled self-propelled howitzer built around an automated loading system and a Tatra 8x8 chassis. Its NATO-standard ammunition, long-range indirect-fire role, and documented deliveries to Ukraine make it part of the Western artillery support package used to strengthen Ukrainian tube artillery in the Russia-Ukraine War.Sources
M119A3 Howitzer (105mm)Publisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Official product page supporting M119A3 range, rate of fire, transportability, weight, fire-control upgrades, and acquisition background. | Accessed: 2026-06-20M119 howitzer still plays critical role for ArmyPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports system role, Rock Island Arsenal production background, modernization context, and combat-service background. | Accessed: 2026-06-20RIA Self-Guided Tour: L119 105 MM Light GunPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the L119 origin, Rock Island Arsenal revision into the M119, and early U.S. production quantities. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Senior Defense Official Holds a Background BriefingPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Direct Russia-Ukraine War source documenting U.S. provision of 16 105 mm howitzers and 36,000 105 mm rounds to Ukraine in an August 2022 security-assistance package. | Accessed: 2026-06-20US to deliver M119A3 105mm digitalized light towed guns to UkrainePublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Direct Russia-Ukraine War source identifying Ukrainian soldiers training on American M119A3 105 mm light towed guns and linking the guns to the 2022 U.S. aid package. | Accessed: 2026-06-20M119 howitzer.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a U.S. Army photo by Kevin Payne, marked public domain as U.S. military work. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Fort Bragg first to receive upgraded M119 howitzersPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports M119A3 digitization, GPS-aided inertial navigation, fire-control improvements, and in-government upgrade integration. | Accessed: 2026-06-20