It is reported that the Ministry of National Defense of Colombia just before the New Year signed a contract worth 101.710788 million dollars with the Israeli company Elbit Systems for the purchase of 18 self-propelled howitzers ATMOS 155-mm/52 caliber on the Tatra T815 VVN 6x6 automobile chassis for the Colombian army. This deal came as a complete surprise to many, including, according to relevant media reports, even for part of the leadership of the Colombian army, since just a few days before, a contract had already been agreed for the purchase of 18 French 155 mm/52 wheeled self-propelled howitzers Nexter CAESAR, previously announced as winners in the Colombian tender.
155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer Elbit Systems ATMOS in the version on the Tatra T815 VVN 6x6 (c) Elbit Systems automobile chassisIn the final stage of the Colombian Army competition for a 155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer on a wheeled chassis, in addition to Elbit Systems ATMOS systems (on the Tatra T815 VVN 6x6 automobile chassis) and Nexter CAESAR (in standard version on the Renault / Arquus Sherpa 5 6x6 automobile chassis), also the Yavuz ACS of the Turkish state company MKE took part.
All three systems were field tested in Colombia in 2021-2022, after which, in May 2022, the Ministry of National Defense of Colombia announced the choice of CAESAR.
However, it is reported that the contract for the purchase of CAESAR, which was almost agreed by December, was never signed, since the French Nexter Systems group at the last moment demanded an increase in the price from $ 101.710788 million agreed in advance with all three bidders by 12%. The Colombian side did not agree with this and as a result, the contract has now been signed with the Israeli Elbit Systems.
The contract with Elbit Systems is calculated on payments for a period of eight years, although the guns themselves should be delivered much earlier. It is reported that the ATMOS 155-mm/ 52 self-propelled gun purchased by Colombia in the performance on the Tatra T815 VVN 6x6 automobile chassis has a full combat weight of 22 tons and is equipped with a Tatra V12 diesel engine with a capacity of 315 hp. The gun is capable of firing five shells per minute or 80 shells during an hour of continuous fire. Colombia has become the tenth known customer of ATMOS ACS in the world.