M982 Excalibur
The M982 Excalibur (previously XM982) is a 155 mm extended range guided artillery shell developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors. It is a precise GPS-guided munition capable of being used in close support situations within 150 metres (490 ft) of friendly troops.
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[edit] Overview
The munition was developed on 50/50 basis by United States-based Raytheon Missile Systems (guidance system) and the Swedish BAE Systems Bofors (body, base, ballistics and payload) .[1] The "smart" round has a range of approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) to 57 kilometres (35 mi) depending on configuration, with a circular error probable (CEP) of around 20 metres (66 ft). 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. Typical (unguided) 155 mm shells have a CEP of 200 metres (660 ft) to 300 metres (980 ft) at moderate ranges.[1]
The munition was developed with US$55.1 million in financial assistance from Sweden, which expected to receive service rounds in 2010. As of 2008[update] unit cost was US$85,000, potentially dropping to US$50,000 in full-scale production.[2] The weapon can make first round strikes on targets up to 20 kilometres (12 mi) away.
Excalibur is used to minimize collateral damage, for targets beyond the range of standard munitions, for precise firing within 150 metres (490 ft) of friendly troops, or when firing in a straight line from the launching cannon is limited by terrain.[1][3]
The US Army rate Excalibur as one of the Top 10 Army Greatest Inventions of the Year Award for 2007.[4][5]
Initial combat experience with Excalibur in Iraq in the summer of 2007 was so successful, with 92% of rounds falling within 4 metres (13 ft) of the target, that the US Army planned to increase production to 150 rounds per month from the previous 18 rounds per month.[6][7]
[edit] Program status
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- June 2005: Raytheon awarded a $22.1 million contract for initial production.[8]
- September 2005: Successful demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.[9]
- June 2006: Raytheon awarded a $42.7 million contract for fiscal year 2006 production of 335 Excalibur projectiles and related test articles and services.[10]
- August 2006: Due to technical problems relating to environmental sensitivity and GPS signal lock, the expected in-service date was delayed to Spring 2007.[11][12]
- September 2006: Successful firings in safety testing demonstrate an actual average CEP of 5m or better.[13]
- May 2007: First operational firing of Excalibur in Iraq.[14]
- October 2007: FMS request by the Australian Army. Estimated cost US$40m.[15]
- April 2008: Revised Australian FMS request. Estimated cost US$58m.[16]
[edit] Specifications
- Caliber: 155 mm
- Guidance: GPS/INS
- Unit cost: $80,000 [17]
- Range:
- Block 1a-1: 23 km
- Block 1a-2: 35 km to 40 km
[edit] Variants
There are three versions of the system (initial development effort was towards Block I):
- Block I has a unitary penetrating warhead.
- Block Ia-1: Accelerated development, reduced range round. Entered service in 2007.[12]
- 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.[18][19]
- Block II carries either 65 DPICM or two 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] Operators
[edit] Guns
The round is compatible with the following guns:
- M109A6 Paladin self-propelled 155 mm howitzer
- M198 howitzer
- M777 Lightweight Howitzer
- Future Combat Systems Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon
- ARCHER Artillery System
[edit] See also
- M712 Copperhead
- XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit
- XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition
- Krasnopol (Weapon)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "XM982 Excalibur 155mm Precision Guided Extended Range Artillery Projectile". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m982-155.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ Cannot Get Enough Excalibur
- ^ "Big Guns". MichaelYon.com. http://www.michaelyon-online.com/big-guns.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ US Army Awards Top 10 Inventions of 2007 Defense Industry Daily, 2008-07-27
- ^ Greatest Army inventions of 2007 Announced, US Army, 2008-07-08
- ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology, 2007-09-03, page 20
- ^ Swedish missile among US army's favourites in Iraq The Local, 2008-08-22
- ^ 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". http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/news/stories/07May/may128.htm.
- ^ Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 1 October 2007
- ^ Defense Security Cooperation Agency, April 2008
- ^ Strategy Page - Excalibur Gets Closer and More Expensive
- ^ "Production effort for the XM982 Excalibur unitary warhead sub-assembly". http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2006/12-December/14-Dec-2006/FBO-01195066.htm.
- ^ "ATK Successfully Tests Advanced 155mm Projectile - ATK PR". http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=362.
- Jane's Ammunition Handbook 2003–2004
[edit] External links
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