Xm975

The XM975 is a German-French "Roland" surface-to-air missile (SAM) system mounted on a modified chassis of the American M109 self-propelled howitzer. In 1975, the United States considered the Roland SAM as an advanced air defense system for the US Army. The first missiles were delivered in 1977, and the first firing from the XM975 launcher (a modified M109 howitzer chassis) took place in September 1978. The American Roland was essentially the Roland 2 equipped with an American-made long-range search radar. However, problems with technology transfer and rising costs led to the cancellation of the program. In the end, only 27 launchers mounted on M812 trucks and 600 missiles were built for the National Guard.