The Russian Lancet’s Extreme Damage to the M109 Paladin

A haunting image has emerged on social media, depicting a Ukrainian M109 Paladin howitzer reduced to a smoldering wreck. Its left side is completely destroyed, the tracks are twisted, the body is torn to pieces. Its turret is nothing but burnt remains, leaving no shelter for the crew, which is just a blacked-out space. The explosion was so strong it even made a big hole on the other side of the vehicle. The culprit, according to Russian sources, is the Lancet loitering munition. This drone carries a big bomb and can stay airborne for a while. Even though the howitzer was hidden under bushes, the Lancet managed to spot it and attacked. The exact details surrounding this incident remain shrouded in the fog of war, but there is no doubt that the M109 Paladin was destroyed. Ukraine’s war has seen countless armored vehicles fall victim to the conflict. However, compared to other knocked-out tanks and artillery pieces, the damage inflicted on this self-propelled howitzer is far more severe. Could this be a stark reminder that the Paladin, designed for a bygone era of warfare, is simply outmatched by the destructive power of modern tank-killing weapons?