Excalibur Ib all up rounds have demonstrated ‘exceptional’ accuracy during 84 firings of the precision-guided weapon during testing at Yuma Proving Ground. Raytheon reported that the majority of rounds landed within two metres of their targets.
The Excalibur Ib is a155mm extended-range artillery projectile based on the combat-proven Excalibur Ia-1 and Ia-2. It uses GPS precision guidance to provide accurate, first round, fire-for-effect capability in any environment.
The test series included qualification on the Swedish Archer 52-caliber weapons system and two US Army howitzers, the Paladin and LW 155. The tests also certified stringent performance and safety requirements. Future testing this year will include a First Article Test, which will verify Excalibur Ib production readiness.
Lt. Col. Josh Walsh, the US Army Excalibur program manager, said: ‘Excalibur achieved new firsts during qualification testing. We demonstrated lethal effects at 50.7km range from the Swedish Archer weapon system while the US gun systems reached 40.54km – exceeding objective requirements.’
Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Land Warfare Systems product line, added: ‘Excalibur Ib will provide the warfighter with the most accurate, extended-range artillery option. This updated round will provide the soldier in the field with greater range, increased accuracy and less collateral damage.’
Raytheon is also working to enhance the 155mm Excalibur GPS-guided projectile with new guidance and navigation capabilities under an internally funded programme.
The new Bushmasters will be used by the Australian Army’s second long-range fires regiment, to be based at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia as part of the 10th Fires Brigade.
The British Army’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) has struggled to make it to competition but there are hopes progress will be made this year.
The aid stations are designed to be mounted onto trucks, such as the Rheinnetall HX family of vehicles, and will be in ballistic protected and unprotected versions.
The contract is for transmissions for the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio for new tanks and overhaul and repair activities at Anniston Army Depot.
Jerusalem’s air defence capabilities procurement efforts will receive up to $190 million.
In the medium-term Lithuania has committed US$1.3 billion which includes Javelin ant-tank missiles, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), Black Hawk helicopters, missile systems and missiles.
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