XM982 Excalibur
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The XM982 Excalibur is a 155 mm extended range guided artillery projectile presently in development by Raytheon TI Systems and Bofors.[1]
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[edit] Overview
The "smart" round is expected to have a range of approximately 40 to 57 km depending on configuration with a CEP of around 10m. The extended range is achieved through the use of folding glide fins, which allow the projectile to glide from the top of a ballistic arc towards the target. The accuracy is achieved through the use of a GPS guidance system. In contrast, standard U.S. 155 mm shells have a CEP of 200 to 300 m at moderate ranges[citation needed].
The munition is being developed with $55.1M in financial assistance from Sweden, which expects to receive service rounds in 2010.
[edit] Specifications
[edit] Variants
There are 3 versions of the system (current development effort is towards Block I):
- Block II carries either 64 DPICM or 2 SADARM submunitions.[1]
- Block III will carry as yet undefined smart munitions, which are required to be able to "detect, discriminate and engage specified target(s) located in a complex urban environment".
[edit] Program status
- June 2005 - Raytheon awarded a $22.1 million contract for initial production.[4]
- June 2006 - Raytheon awarded a $42.7 million contract for fiscal year 2006 production of 335 Excalibur projectiles and related test articles and services.[5]
- August 2006 - Due to technical problems relating to environmental sensitivity and GPS signal lock, the expected in service date has been put back to Spring 2007.[6][3]
- September 2006 - Successful firings in safety testing demonstrate an actual average CEP of 5m or better.[7]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b XM982 Excalibur - Global Security
- ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Gets Closer and More Expensive
- ^ a b Strategy Page - Excalibur Delayed Again
- ^ Find Articles - United States Army Aug 2005
- ^ Deagel
- ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Freeze Out
- ^ Successful Safety Testing of GPS-Guided Artillery Projectile Puts Raytheon-BAE Systems Bofors' Excalibur Closer to Fielding - Raytheon
[edit] References
- Jane's Ammunition Handbook 2003-2004
