page_title: BAE Systems Land & Armaments
section_title: Global Combat Systems
hierarchical_section_title: BAE Systems Land & Armaments / Organization / Global Combat Systems
caption_attribution_description: English: M777 howitzer, seen from rear. Original caption: "Artillerymen with Gun 3, Guns Platoon, Battery K, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, Calif., fire-off a round with the newly fielded M777 Lightweight 155-millimeter Howitzer Monday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. Three lightweight howitzers were fielded to Kilo Battery, which participated in a weeklong Fire Exercise beginning May 23." (The text, like the image, is PD-USGov-Military-Marines)
context_page_description: BAE Systems Land & Armaments is a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems Inc.. and is responsible for the design, development and production of combat vehicles, ammunition, artillery systems, naval guns and missile launchers. It is the largest such company in the world. It was created on 24 June 2005, following the completion of BAE Systems' acquisition of United Defense in 2004 and its merger with BAE Systems Land Systems. In 2007 BAE Systems acquired Armor Holdings adding to the size of Land & Armaments significantly.
  Until April 2003 BAE Systems was a relatively small player in the land systems industry, however following the 2004 purchase of Alvis Vickers, the aforementioned 2004 acquisition of United Defense, and the acquisition of Armor Holdings in 2007 it is now one of the largest land systems defence contractors in the world.
context_section_description: Global Combat Systems (GCS) was formed on 1 February 2009 by the merger of BAE Systems' Land Systems Weapons & Vehicles, Land Systems (Munitions & Ordnance) Ltd and BAE Systems AB in Sweden. It also has a 50/50 joint venture with Nexter (formerly GIAT), CTA International, which is located in Bourges, France.
caption: US Marine gunners test fire a GCS Weapons M777 howitzer.
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