The XM982 Excalibur is a 155 mm extended range guided artillery shell presently in development by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors.[1]
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Overview
The "smart" round is expected to have a range of approximately 40 to 57 km depending on configuration with a circular error probable (CEP) of around 10 m. 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.[1] The munition is being developed with $55.1M in financial assistance from Sweden, which expects to receive service rounds in 2010. As of 2007, unit costs were expected to be $39,000 per round in full-scale production.[2] Initial combat experience with Excalibur in Iraq in the summer of 2007 was so successful (92% of rounds falling within 4 meters of the target) that the US Army planned to increase the production rate to 150 rounds per month vs the previous 18 rounds per month.[3]
Program status
- June 2005 - Raytheon awarded a $22.1 million contract for initial production.[4]
- September 2005 - Successful demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ.[5]
- June 2006 - Raytheon awarded a $42.7 million contract for fiscal year 2006 production of 335 Excalibur projectiles and related test articles and services.[6]
- August 2006 - Due to technical problems relating to environmental sensitivity and GPS signal lock, the expected in service date put back to Spring 2007.[7][8]
- September 2006 - Successful firings in safety testing demonstrate an actual average CEP of 5m or better.[9]
- May 2007 - First operational firing of Excalibur in Iraq.[10]
- October 2007 - FMS request by the Australian Army. Estimated cost US$40m. [11]
Specifications
- Caliber: 155 mm
- Guidance: GPS/INS
- Unit cost: $80,000 [12]
- Range:
- Block 1a-1: 23 km
- Block 1a-2: 35 km to 40 km
Variants
There are 3 versions of the system (current development effort is towards Block I):
- Block I has a unitary penetrating warhead.
- Block Ia-1: Accelerated development, reduced range round. Entered service in 2007.[8]
- Block Ia-2: Extended range round.
- Block Ib: Full capability, reduced cost round. Will be re-opened to competitive selection. Alliant Techsystems has announced its intention to submit an offering based on its Saber technology.[13][14]
- 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".
Operators
Australia - pending FMS request
Canada
United States
Weapon systems
The round is compatible with the following weapon systems:
- M109A6 Paladin
- M198 howitzer
- M777 Lightweight Howitzer
- Future Combat Systems Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon
- ARCHER Artillery System
References
- ^ a b c XM982 Excalibur 155mm Precision Guided Extended Range Artillery Projectile. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2007-05-27.
- ^ [High-tech shell from Raytheon likely to be sent to Iraq in May Published: 2007-04-19]
- ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology, 2007-09-03, page 20
- ^ Find Articles - United States Army Aug 2005
- ^ Troops could have new Picatinny-developed smart artillery munition by March - RDECOM Magazine
- ^ XM982 Excalibur - Deagel
- ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Freeze Out
- ^ a b Strategy Page - Excalibur Delayed Again
- ^ Successful Safety Testing of GPS-Guided Artillery Projectile Puts Raytheon-BAE Systems Bofors' Excalibur Closer to Fielding - Raytheon
- ^ America’s First Team first-ever to fire Excalibur precision munition in combat.
- ^ Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 1 October 2007
- ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Gets Closer and More Expensive
- ^ Production effort for the XM982 Excalibur unitary warhead sub-assembly.
- ^ ATK Successfully Tests Advanced 155mm Projectile - ATK PR.
- Jane's Ammunition Handbook 2003-2004
