{"id":15171,"date":"2024-07-19T08:52:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T11:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=15171"},"modified":"2024-07-20T10:14:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-20T13:14:12","slug":"multi-domain-artillery-cannon-mdac-municion-hvp-para-defensa-aerea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=15171","title":{"rendered":"Multi Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC), munici\u00f3n HVP para defensa a\u00e9rea"},"content":{"rendered":"

En la b\u00fasqueda de alternativas de bajo costo frente a los misiles Superficie \u2013 Aire, que se emplean para neutralizar las m\u00faltiples amenazas a\u00e9reas que saturan hoy el campo de batalla, el US ARMY invit\u00f3 las empresas l\u00edderes de la Base Industrial de Defensa de ese pa\u00eds, para que presenten propuestas y participar en el programa MULTI DOMAIN ARTILLERY CANNON (MDAC). El objetivo es el desarrollo de un sistema de artiller\u00eda de tubo de calibre 155 mm, montado sobre una plataforma a ruedas 6×6, que utilizar\u00eda como munici\u00f3n ,el proyectil de hipervelocidad (HVP) desarrollado para el, proyecto de Ca\u00f1\u00f3n Electromagn\u00e9tico (Railgun) recientemente suspendido. El Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP) fue desarrollado por BAE Systems y ya ha sido ensayado ,disparando desde armas de tubo con cargas propelentes convencionales, para neutralizar amenazas a\u00e9reas como misiles y drones. Se espera que los primeros prototipos del MDAC est\u00e9n disponibles para su evaluaci\u00f3n en 2027.<\/p>\n

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The U.S. Army hopes to start fielding a new\u00a0air defense system based around<\/a>\u00a0a wheeled self-propelled 155mm howitzer, which could use ammunition originally developed for\u00a0an abortive U.S. Navy electromagnetic railgun<\/a>, before the end of the decade. The service is pursuing the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC) as a way to further\u00a0expand its already growing<\/a>\u00a0air and missile defense capabilities, especially in\u00a0expeditionary scenarios<\/a>\u00a0and when it comes to defending against\u00a0increasing cruise missile threats<\/a>. The goal with MDAC is also to offer a lower-cost alternative to traditional surface-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n

The Army\u2019s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO)\u00a0recently issued a request for information<\/a>\u00a0regarding plans to acquire complete MDAC prototypes.<\/p>\n

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A previously released rendering of a notional MDAC design. DOD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cResponses must clearly demonstrate technical qualifications, capability, and experience to provide a prototype MDAC solution with battery-level prototype deliveries no later than Q4FY27 [fourth quarter Fiscal Year 2027] followed by an Operational Demonstration (OD) in FY28,\u201d the RCCTO RFI says. \u201cThe MDAC OD in FY28 will be composed of prototypes delivered under this RCCTO effort combined with similar prototypes delivered under separate Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) developed for the Hypervelocity Gun Weapon System (HGWS).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUpon the conclusion of the OD the prototype will be delivered to soldiers as a residual combat capability,\u201d the RFI adds.<\/p>\n

The Army is looking to award the MDAC prototype contract in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2025, according to RCCTO. Those prototypes will consist \u201cof a wheeled self-propelled 155 mm weapon system and HVP-compatible propelling charge solution,\u201d the RFI says.<\/p>\n

HVP here stands for \u201chypervelocity projectile.\u201d Though no specific HVP round is mentioned in the RFI, the U.S. military has displayed MDAC and related Hypervelocity Ground Weapon System (HGWS) concepts in the past alongside\u00a0a BAE Systems design<\/a>\u00a0originally\u00a0developed to be fired<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0a now-canceled Navy railgun<\/a>. Defending against various aerial threats, including cruise and ballistic missiles, was among the roles envisioned for that weapon.<\/p>\n

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A US Navy officer holds an example of the BAE Systems HVP design. USN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A now-dated US Navy briefing slide showing how railgun armed ships (as well as other platforms firing HVPs) could potentially engage a wide variety of aerial threats, including cruise missiles, as well as surface targets. USN A briefing slide related to the Navy\u2019s past railgun and HVP programs. It shows how ships could potentially engage a wide variety of aerial threats, including cruise missiles, as well as surface targets, with HVPs fired by conventional 5-inch naval guns. HGWS\/MDAC could have similarly multi-purpose capabilities. USN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Versions of the dart-shaped precision-guided BAE HVP round have been test-fired from Navy five-inch naval deck guns and 155mm howitzers in the past. The HVP developed for use in the railgun was also a kinetic projectile designed to destroy targets through the sheer force impact after reaching a reported peak speed\u00a0of 5,600 miles per hour<\/a>, but the other types were expected to have high-explosive warheads. The Navy previously said that the HVP would have a maximum range of around 17 or 40 nautical miles when fired from a towed 155mm M777 howitzer or five-inch Mk 45 gun respectively.<\/p>\n

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Models of different versions of the BAE HVP design. Also note the different discarding sabots structures. Joseph Trevithick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another old US Navy briefing slide with details about the different versions of the BAE Systems HVP. USN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the new MDAC prototypes, the Army also says it wants a wheeled platform with high \u201ctactical mobility\u201d that also offers a significant degree of \u201csurvivability through the use of rapid emplacement and displacement\u201d tactics.<\/p>\n

As part of the prototyping effort, contractors can either supply their own 155mm weapon or ask for one from the Army. The complete weapon system should be heavily automated and offer \u201cremote weapon firing capability,\u201d \u201chigh rates of fire with [the] HVP,\u201d \u201cdeep magazine capacity,\u201d and \u201crapid ammunition resupply time (manual and automated),\u201d according to the RFI.<\/p>\n

The weapon also needs to be mounted on the wheeled platform in such a way as to offer a \u201clarge launch window\u201d against incoming threats \u201cenabled through large elevation and traverse range limits.\u201d No mention is made of what kind of range parameters the Army is eyeing for MDAC.<\/p>\n

The computer-generated MDAC\/HGWS video, seen below, that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory previously released shows a notional 6\u00d76 wheeled design with the gun mounted in a large turret at the rear of the vehicle that is also transportable via a C-130 cargo plane.<\/p>\n