Airborne Combat Engineer

BAE testing for PGK competition

Systems has successfully fired 20 GPS-guided rounds as part of interim testing for the U.S. Army's Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) Technical Development program. BAE Systems' PGK team fired 20 155 mm projectiles equipped with its PGK test modules at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.   

The interim tests were the second series of successful gun-fired tests completed by BAE Systems on its PGK solution in less than two months. The testing included 20 rounds of various test configurations including fully autonomous GPS guided rounds. BAE Systems fired M549 Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP) to a range of about 20.5 kilometers. All test objectives were adhered with all rounds functioning properly. The GPS guided rounds demonstrated the ability to acquire GPS within the desired time and the ability to maneuver within the required 50-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP).

The Army will award a contract to the winner of the competitive shoot-off for development of PGK Increment 1, expected to be fielded in Fiscal Year 2009. The PGK Increment 1 requirement calls for a 155 mm PGK solution that can achieve an accuracy of less than 50 meters.

[Defense World]

As mentioned in a 15APR2007 A-C-E post, the XM982 GPS-guided Excalibur round acheived CEP under 10m in recent tests.

A-C-E is primarily focused on the soldier and his tools, but it's also interested in anything which supports ground operations, including artillery.

Excalibur GPS-guided 155mm shell

Excalibur XM982 is a smart 155mm ammunition, developed by Raytheon BAE Systems and Bofors Defense. Excalibur is fired for high elevation and then glides from its apogee to the assigned target.

The shell has a specially designed rotating fin for roll stabilization, and integrated base bleed which facilitates maximum range of 40km with conventional (155mm/39 Caliber) howitzers and up to 50km, when fired from future tubes. T

he Excalibur uses inertial and satellite based GPS guidance to execute course corrections through the flight, to achieve pinpoint targeting with an accuracy within 10m at its 40 km (25 miles) range.

In a late November U.S. Army test at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., 13 of 14 Excalibur rounds fired up to 24 kilometers away hit within 10 meters of their targets — an unprecedented Circular Error Probable (CEP) for cannon artillery.

Excalibur shells will be fired from the lightweight M777A2 155mm howitzer, and will be fielded in Q3 2007. The combination gives a Brigade Combat Team long-range, accurate firepower.

[Defense Update] [Raytheon] [pdf] [Global Security] [Patriot Voices, 28SEP2005]

Forward observers communicate the target's GPS using Target Location, Designation and Hand-off Systems (TLDHS).  Sauder's StrikeLink software is part of TLDHS, and is compatible with a number of targeting systems.

[DID]

See a Discovery Channel video clip posted at YouTube.

What's the catch? According to Argghhh! (who, unlike ACE, really knows artillery), each round will initially cost about $150K. If enough are made, that might drop to $33K in the long run.

Laser-guided 155mm artillery round

Raytheon Company's Excalibur precision-guided 155 mm artillery round has passed its final testing hurdle for fielding, with the successful completion of a so- called Limited User Test in February at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.   Pending additional system-level certification, Excalibur will be fielded to U.S. Army and Canadian field artillery units.   When Excalibur is fielded, it will mark the deployment of the world's first autonomous precision-guided artillery projectile, providing soldiers and Marines with unprecedented fire support accuracy from weapon  organic to the current Brigade Combat Team force structure.

Maj. Gen. David Ralston, Commanding General, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence:

"As the first autonomous guided field artillery projectile, Excalibur provides the users -- our field artillery soldiers and Marines -- an enhanced capability for responsive, precise and lethal fires in support of the ground commander while simultaneously reducing damage to civilian personnel and facilities."

[Defense World]

The dreaded "88"

John @ Argghhh! has two photos of what was commonly refered to simply as the "88."