U.S. Army conducts M777 Alpha 2 live-fire certification in Germany

United States Army soldiers assigned to the 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted live-fire training with the M777 Alpha 2 medium towed howitzer during a Table XV qualification at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on February 5, 2026.

According to the U.S. Army, the Table XV event involved integrated test fires conducted within a tactical scenario to validate artillery crews’ ability to execute fire missions safely and accurately under operational conditions. The firing was carried out as part of the unit’s scheduled qualification cycle overseen by the 7th Army Training Command.

The exercise focused on crew coordination, fire mission procedures, and adherence to safety standards while operating the M777 howitzer in a realistic field environment. Table XV represents one of the highest crew-level certifications for field artillery units, requiring live ammunition and full mission execution rather than simulated drills.

The training took place at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, one of the U.S. Army’s primary combat training sites in Europe. The range complex supports large-scale live-fire exercises for U.S. and allied forces and is routinely used to certify units assigned to NATO’s eastern flank.

M777 Alpha 2 howitzer at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Feb. 5, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Morse)

The M777 Alpha 2 is the latest variant of the 155mm towed howitzer fielded by U.S. Army and Marine Corps artillery units. It is designed to provide long-range, precision-capable indirect fire while remaining transportable by air, including by helicopter.

The Alpha 2 configuration includes updated digital fire control systems and improved integration with modern targeting and command networks.