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]

Contents

[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

  • Caliber: 155 mm
  • Guidance: GPS/INS
  • Unit cost: $80,000 [2]

[edit] Variants

There are 3 versions of the system (current development effort is towards Block I):

  • Block I has a unitary penetrating warhead. It is expected to enter service sometime in 2007.[3]
  • 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

  1. ^ a b XM982 Excalibur - Global Security
  2. ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Gets Closer and More Expensive
  3. ^ a b Strategy Page - Excalibur Delayed Again
  4. ^ Find Articles - United States Army Aug 2005
  5. ^ Deagel
  6. ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Freeze Out
  7. ^ 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

[edit] External links

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