Yugoimport SDPR is now marketing a number of artillery upgrades, including one for the US-developed 105 mm M101 howitzer.

The main objectives of this upgrade are to extend the range and firepower of the M101 towed howitzer, whose original design can be traced back to well before the Second World War.

The company has developed, tested and qualified the upgraded version of the 105 mm M101 US-developed towed howitzer, which is now being offered on the export market.

The M101 weapon can be upgraded in the facilities of Yugoimport or the company can provide kits, which enable the user to upgrade the weapons at their own facility. The total weight of the upgrade kit is stated to be only 233 kg.

The M101 105 mm upgrade includes replacing the current 105 mm/23 calibre barrel with a new 105 mm/30 calibre barrel, which is capable of withstanding higher pressures. The new barrel is fitted with a new double-baffle muzzle brake. This is claimed to have an efficiency of 40 per cent.

The existing breech mechanism, including breech ring and breech block, is replaced by an identical one that has stronger steel, which can withstand the pressures of firing extended-range projectiles.

The existing equilibrator spring has been replaced by a new one that will compensate for the added weight of the new barrel assembly. Finally, additional mass is added to the trails.

The upgraded 105 mm M101 howitzer can fire all existing types of 105 mm ammunition as well as the more recent locally developed 105 mm high-explosive extended range - base bleed, which enables a maximum range of 18.5 km to be achieved.