6 May 2015, The U.S. Army and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully fired two Excalibur LB projectiles from a M109A2/A3 howitzer during recent tests. Using the M185 cannon and M119A2 propelling charge with Excalibur for the first time, both rounds guided precisely to their targets more than 20 kilometers away.
In this video the U.S. Army conducted a First Article Test (FAT) from December 4-7, 2013, to determine the production readiness of Excalibur Ib. This highly successful test once again demonstrated Excalibur’s unparalleled capabilities as the longest range, most precise artillery munition ever fielded by the US military.
The latest variant of the Excalibur precision-guided projectile will be used by armies and be available for naval ships.
During IOT&E, artillerymen from Fort Riley’s 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery fired numerous Excalibur LB rounds, scoring several target hits and averaging less than two meters miss distance.
Excalibur’s performance and reliability continues to reach new levels in every test event,” said Lieutenant Colonel Josh Walsh, U.S. Army Excalibur Product Manager. “This projectile is exceeding all of its key performance parameters, and the Army’s artillerymen continue to sing its praises.”
Excalibur LB is the newest variant of the 155mm GPS-guided projectile. IOT&E is administered by the U.S. Army’s Test and Evaluation Command and performed by an active-duty artillery battalion in a tactical environment. Raytheon expects the Army to announce a full rate production decision by mid-year.
“Excalibur is a model program,” said Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems’ Land Warfare Systems product line. “It is an excellent example of a governmentindustry team working together to put a critical capability into the hands of our warfighters.”
Raytheon is also funding a program to augment the combat-proven Excalibur with a laser spot tracker (LST), giving the weapon a dual-mode GPS/LST guidance capability. The company is planning a live-fire demonstration of Excalibur S this year. Laser guidance will mitigate target location error, enable attack of mobile targets, and can ensure precision effects when GPS is either degraded or denied.
The LST can also be incorporated into the 5-inch Excalibur naval variant the company is also developing. Excalibur N5 will use the same guidance and navigation unit produced for the Ib. Raytheon is planning a live fire demonstration of Excalibur N5 later this year.
About Excalibur
Excalibur is a revolutionary precision guided projectile that provides warfighters a first round effects capability in nearly any environment. Excalibur is cannon artillery’s only long range true precision weapon.
Combat proven: Nearly 750 Excalibur rounds have been fired in combat
Precise: Excalibur consistently strikes less than two meters from a precisely-located target
Responsive: Excalibur dramatically reduces mission response time
Safe: Excalibur’s precision practically eliminates collateral damage and has been employed within 75 meters of supported troops
Affordable: Excalibur’s first round effects reduces total mission cost and the user’s logistics burden
Growing: With Excalibur S, Raytheon is adding a Laser Spot Tracker to mitigate target location error and enable engagement of moving targets
Entering New Markets: With Excalibur N5, a five-inch naval variant, navies will be able to deliver extended range, precision naval surface fires
Excalibur is a cooperative program between Raytheon and BAE Systems Bofors. Using GPS precision guidance technology, Excalibur provides accurate, first round effects in any scenario. Excalibur is considered a true precision weapon, impacting at a radial miss distance of less than two meters from the target.
By using Excalibur’s level of precision, there is a major dramatic reduction in the time, cost and logistical burden traditionally associated with using artillery munitions. Analyses have shown that on average, it can take at least 10 conventional munitions to accomplish what one Excalibur can.
Raytheon is developing a laser-guided version of the projectile, the Excalibur S. This variant incorporates a laser spot tracker, allowing it to hit moving targets. The laser guidance system gives the shell protection from GPS jamming.
The company is also developing a sea-based, 5-inch variant, the Excalibur N5. The Excalibur N5 is expected to more than double the maximum range of conventional 5-inch munitions and will provide the same accuracy as the land-based version.
The M109A2/A3 is an early variant of the M109-series howitzer operated by armed forces around the world. Based on the test results, those forces are now able to use the extended range precision capability provided by Excalibur LB.
Excalibur is co-developed by Raytheon Company and BAE Systems Bofors.
Fuente: http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/excalibur/
