Israel unveils futuristic artillery piece amid Gaza War

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After years of development and research, Israel's defense industry has introduced a groundbreaking artillery piece named Roem, an advanced weapon produced by Elbit Systems, one of Israel's leading defense companies.

The state-of-the-art artillery gun is designed to sit on a wheeled vehicle and is expected to boost the Israeli military’s fighting capabilities. Dubbed the “world’s first fully automatic” 155 mm Howitzer, the new weapon will reportedly have a firing range of up to 80 kilometers (about 50 miles).

In June, Israel Defense Forces described the Roem as “the first cannon in the world capable of automatic firing” and described its advanced features.

“The new cannon brings with it new and groundbreaking capabilities to the battlefield, significantly increases the rate of fire, allows firing at longer ranges than the existing cannon in use in the IDF today, enables independent and fast movement on roads, and has high movement capabilities in the field,” the IDF stated.

The Roem automates essential functions, such as loading the cannon and other tasks traditionally been performed by soldiers.

IDF Chief of Artillery Brig.-Gen. Yair Natans assessed that the Roem artillery would significantly enhance the military’s fire capabilities.

“We have taken yet another significant step towards integrating the ‘Roem’ into the diverse firepower capabilities wielded by corps commanders to assist maneuvering forces — close and lethal support that eliminates many enemies and protects soldiers in various arenas,” Natans said.

“The Roem is part of the reinforcement processes of all ground artillery systems, including rockets, missiles, and remotely piloted aircraft,” he added.

IDF Maj. Nate Franz noted that the new weapon is expected to reduce the need for manpower in the artillery units due to its automated functions, saying: “It can do more with less,” adding that soldiers would be required to undergo new training.

“The orientation will be different. As soldiers, we will have different orientation and training. It’s a new tool, and it will change,” Franz stated.

In 2023, a Ynet News report noted that the Roem project was veiled in secrecy due to its importance.

“Led by the Defense Ministry and defense manufacturer Elbit, the new Israeli cannon is already considered to be one of Israel’s premier security projects,” Ynet stated at the time.

“Most of its internal components remain classified. Only a handful of prototypes exist, and one has been modified for potential foreign customers.”

Israel's defense industry has established a reputation for innovation and excellence that is closely linked to lessons learned from the IDF’s military operations on the battlefield.

In October, Lt.-Col. Omer Cohen, a commander in the elite IDF Maglan unit, praised the Elbit Systems' new Iron Sting weapon, a precision-guided mortar munition.

“Thanks to the precision abilities, the lethality and the expertise of the fighters, the Maglan unit in cooperation with the Air Force foiled dozens of terrorists with a variety of means, one of which is the precision mortar ‘Iron Sting,’” Cohen said.