Artillery

TRF1

Also known as
  • TR-F1
  • 155 TR F1
  • Le Canon Tracté de 155mm TR F1
  • TR155

The TRF1 is a French 155 mm towed howitzer built by GIAT Industries for NATO-standard indirect fire. It entered French service in 1989, uses an auxiliary power unit for short self-movement, and can fire NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition as well as extended-range and BONUS projectiles; French sources document the gun with Division Daguet in the Gulf War and in later deliveries to Ukraine.

TRF1, 155 mm towed howitzer, Artillery
Image source: Combined Endeavor 2013 TRF1 live fire image

Role in Conflicts

Design Notes

Weaponsystems.net describes the TRF1 as a towed gun with an auxiliary power unit and a travel-oriented layout that shortens the ordnance during movement.

FeatureDocumented detail
Auxiliary power unitMounted in front of the wheels and used for autonomous travel at up to 9 km/h.
Travel layoutThe 155 mm L/40 ordnance swings 180 degrees toward the rear for movement.
Loading aidA hydraulic rammer assists shell loading.
TowingThe gun is normally towed by a 6x6 truck; French service uses the Renault TRM 10000.
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
France
Type
155 mm towed howitzer
Service note
Designed in the late 1970s; entered French service in 1989
Designer
GIAT Industries
Designed
Late 1970s
Unit cost
About $546,000 in equivalent 2003 U.S. dollars, per Forecast International
Produced
1989 into the 1990s
Number built
145 reported by Weaponsystems.net; Forecast International reported 148 as of January 1, 2003

Specifications

Caliber
155 mm NATO
Barrel
40-caliber barrel, about 6.2 m
Crew
7 or 8
Weight
About 10.75 t
Range
About 24 km with standard rounds; about 18.5 km with M107 rounds; about 32.9 km with ERFB base-bleed ammunition
Rate of fire
3 rounds in 18 seconds; about 6 rounds per minute for short periods
Mobility
Normally towed by a 6x6 truck; auxiliary power unit allows short autonomous movement at about 9 km/h
Service And Export Footprint

Forecast International describes the TRF1 as a French Army-sponsored GIAT system whose production line went dormant after the French requirement, with limited export sales and later marketing centered on longer-caliber options.

ContextDocumented detail
French procurementDevelopment and French procurement were sponsored by the French Ministry of Defense through French Army armaments channels.
Production statusThe production line went dormant in July 1993 after the French requirement was completed, while marketing for new orders continued.
Export distributionThe same report lists export sales to Cyprus and Saudi Arabia alongside the French inventory.
Development pathLonger-caliber TRF1 work fed into the truck-mounted CAESAR development path and a proposed export model.
Variants

Forecast International reported no specific TRF1 variants, but documented an export model, longer-caliber development work, and the CAESAR truck-mounted path from a 52-caliber TRF1 cannon and associated components.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Export modelModified export configuration

Forecast International described an export model with a modified chamber and elevation increased to 70 degrees.

Sources: 155 TR F1 155 mm Howitzer - Archived

CAESAR, 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer, ArtilleryCAESARTruck-mounted 52-caliber development path

Forecast International described the 52-caliber TRF1 cannon and associated components being integrated with a Mercedes-Benz U 2450 L chassis in the program that became CAESAR.

Sources: 155 TR F1 155 mm Howitzer - Archived

Ammunition Fired

Weaponsystems.net publishes separate range figures by ammunition type, while Forecast International describes the TRF1 as compatible with NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition and the BONUS projectile.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
155 mm NATO ammunition, 155 mm NATO-standard artillery ammunition family for 39-, 45-, and 52-caliber howitzers, Munitions155 mm NATO ammunition155 mm NATO ammunition family

Forecast International states that the TRF1 can fire NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition, supporting a broad ammunition-family link.

Sources: 155 TR F1 155 mm Howitzer - Archived

M107 155 mm high-explosive projectile, 155 mm high-explosive projectile, ArtilleryM107 155 mm high-explosive projectile155 mm high-explosive projectile

Weaponsystems.net lists the TRF1 at 18.5 km with M107 rounds, linking the gun directly to the M107 family.

Sources: 155mm TR-F1

BONUS 155 mm top-attack submunition projectile, 155 mm artillery-launched, fire-and-forget anti-armor munition, MunitionsBONUS 155 mm top-attack submunition projectile155 mm top-attack submunition projectile

Forecast International lists the TRF1 as compatible with the BONUS submunition dispensing projectile.

Sources: 155 TR F1 155 mm Howitzer - Archived

Timeline

TRF1 Key Events

  1. Shown at Eurosatory

    The Commons file page describes the TRF1 as being showcased in 1979 at Eurosatory.

    Sources: TRF1 155mm.jpg

  2. French service begins

    Weaponsystems.net lists the TRF1 as entering service in 1989.

    Sources: 155mm TR-F1

  3. Division Daguet fields TRF1 guns

    A French government Gulf War dossier lists 18 TRF1 towed guns in the Division Daguet equipment set during the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

    Sources: La guerre du Golfe (1990-1991): Opération Daguet

  4. Six guns are sent to Ukraine

    The French Ministry for the Armed Forces listed six TRF1 howitzers in its October 2022 Ukraine equipment release.

    Sources: French Military Equipment Delivered to Ukraine

Ammunition And Reach

Weaponsystems.net separates the TRF1's range by ammunition type, which makes the gun's standard and extended-range shots easy to compare.

AmmunitionPublished rangeNote
Standard 155 mm shells24 kmBaseline range for normal firing.
M107 rounds18.5 kmSpecific figure published for the M107 high-explosive projectile.
ERFB base-bleed ammunition32.9 kmLong-range ammunition class listed in the entry.
Direct fire2 kmShort direct-fire mode published on the reference page.

The same source also gives a three-round opening burst and a short-period rate of about six rounds per minute.

Media

TRF1 Videos

TRF1 Images

TRF1, 155 mm towed howitzer, Artillery - view 1
Source: TRF1 155mm.jpg
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Sources

155mm TR-F1Publisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Supports TRF1 background, designations, service entry, production quantity, caliber, crew, dimensions, range by ammunition type, rate of fire, and mobility specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-06List & information French military equipment and weapons donated to UkrainePublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports direct conflict use for 2014 Russia-Ukraine War by documenting TRF1 howitzers delivered to Ukraine; also supports manufacturer, background, and specification claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-06French Military Equipment Delivered to UkrainePublisher: French Ministry for the Armed Forces | Note: Official French delivered-equipment list documenting six TRF1 howitzers supplied to Ukraine for the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. | Accessed: 2026-07-06TRF1 155mm.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: File page for a TRF1 photo that identifies the system, records its 1979 Eurosatory debut context, and provides image provenance and licensing. | Accessed: 2026-07-06What weapons is France sending to Ukraine?Publisher: Le Monde | Note: Supports direct conflict use for 2014 Russia-Ukraine War by reporting TRF1 howitzers delivered to Ukrainian forces; also summarizes range, rate of fire, mobility, and Nexter production background. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Combined Endeavor 2013 TRF1 live fire imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image page identifies the TRF1 photo as a U.S. Army image released into the public domain. | Accessed: 2026-07-06155 TR F1 155 mm Howitzer - ArchivedPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports GIAT development and manufacture, French procurement sponsorship, production status, 148-piece production total as of January 1, 2003, 2003 unit-price estimate, ammunition compatibility, variant limits, export-model context, CAESAR development path, and export distribution. | Accessed: 2026-07-06La guerre du Golfe (1990-1991): Opération DaguetPublisher: Chemins de mémoire / Ministère des Armées | Note: French government dossier supporting 1990 Gulf War direct conflict use by documenting 18 TRF1 towed guns fielded with Division Daguet during the coalition campaign. | Accessed: 2026-07-06