XM982 Excalibur
Encyclopedia
The M982 Excalibur 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 (492.1 ft) of friendly troops.
(guidance system) and the Swedish BAE Systems Bofors (body, base, ballistics and payload) . The "smart" round has a range of approximately 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) to 57 kilometres (35.4 mi) depending on configuration, with a circular error probable
(CEP) of around 20 metres (65.6 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 (656.2 ft) to 300 metres (984.3 ft) at moderate ranges.
The munition was developed with US$55.1 million in financial assistance from Sweden
, which expected to receive service rounds in 2010. unit cost was US$85,000, potentially dropping to US$50,000 in full-scale production. The weapon can make first round strikes on targets up to 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) away.
Excalibur is used to minimize collateral damage
, for targets beyond the range of standard munitions, for precise firing within 150 metres (492.1 ft) of friendly troops, or when firing in a straight line from the launching cannon is limited by terrain.
The US Army rate Excalibur as one of the Top 10 Army Greatest Inventions of the Year Award for 2007.
Initial combat experience with Excalibur in Iraq in the summer of 2007 was so successful, with 92% of rounds falling within 4 metres (13.1 ft) of the target, that the US Army planned to increase production to 150 rounds per month from the previous 18 rounds per month.
Australia
—pending FMS
request Canada
United States
Norway
Raytheon Missile Systems
Raytheon Missile Systems Company is a subsidiary of Raytheon Company. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, its president is Taylor W. Lawrence. Formerly, known as Hughes Missile Systems Company before being acquired by Raytheon Company....
and BAE Systems Bofors. It is a precise GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
-guided munition capable of being used in close support situations within 150 metres (492.1 ft) of friendly troops.
Overview
The munition was developed on 50/50 basis by United States-based Raytheon Missile SystemsRaytheon Missile Systems
Raytheon Missile Systems Company is a subsidiary of Raytheon Company. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, its president is Taylor W. Lawrence. Formerly, known as Hughes Missile Systems Company before being acquired by Raytheon Company....
(guidance system) and the Swedish BAE Systems Bofors (body, base, ballistics and payload) . The "smart" round has a range of approximately 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) to 57 kilometres (35.4 mi) depending on configuration, with a circular error probable
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
(CEP) of around 20 metres (65.6 ft). The extended range is achieved through the use of folding glide fins, which allow the projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
to glide from the top of a ballistic
External ballistics
External ballistics is the part of the science of ballistics that deals with the behaviour of a non-powered projectile in flight. External ballistics is frequently associated with firearms, and deals with the behaviour of the bullet after it exits the barrel and before it hits the target.-Forces...
arc towards the target. The accuracy is achieved through the use of a GPS guidance system
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
. Typical (unguided) 155 mm shells have a CEP of 200 metres (656.2 ft) to 300 metres (984.3 ft) at moderate ranges.
The munition was developed with US$55.1 million in financial assistance from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, which expected to receive service rounds in 2010. unit cost was US$85,000, potentially dropping to US$50,000 in full-scale production. The weapon can make first round strikes on targets up to 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) away.
Excalibur is used to minimize collateral damage
Collateral damage
Collateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a military action.-Etymology:...
, for targets beyond the range of standard munitions, for precise firing within 150 metres (492.1 ft) of friendly troops, or when firing in a straight line from the launching cannon is limited by terrain.
The US Army rate Excalibur as one of the Top 10 Army Greatest Inventions of the Year Award for 2007.
Initial combat experience with Excalibur in Iraq in the summer of 2007 was so successful, with 92% of rounds falling within 4 metres (13.1 ft) of the target, that the US Army planned to increase production to 150 rounds per month from the previous 18 rounds per month.
Program status
- June 2005: Raytheon awarded a $22.1 million contract for initial production.
- September 2005: Successful demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
- June 2006: Raytheon awarded a $42.7 million contract for fiscal year 2006 production of 335 Excalibur projectiles and related test articles and services.
- August 2006: Due to technical problems relating to environmental sensitivity and GPS signal lock, the expected in-service date was delayed to Spring 2007.
- September 2006: Successful firings in safety testing demonstrate an actual average CEP of 5m or better.
- May 2007: First operational firing of Excalibur in Iraq.
- October 2007: FMSForeign Military SalesThe U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program facilitates sales of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services, and military training to foreign governments...
request by the Australian Army. Estimated cost US$40m. - April 2008: Revised Australian FMSForeign Military SalesThe U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program facilitates sales of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services, and military training to foreign governments...
request. Estimated cost US$58m.
Specifications
- Caliber: 155 mm
- Guidance: GPS/INS
- Unit cost: $80,000
- Range:
- Block 1a-1: 23 km
- Block 1a-2: 35 km to 40 km
Variants
There are three versions of the system (initial development effort was towards Block I):- Block I has a unitary penetrating warheadWarheadThe term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
.- Block Ia-1: Accelerated development, reduced range round. Entered service in 2007.
- Block Ia-2: Extended range round.
- Block Ib: Full capability, reduced cost round. Will be re-opened to competitive selection. Alliant TechsystemsAlliant TechsystemsAlliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
has announced its intention to submit an offering based on its Saber technology.
- Block II carries either 65 DPICM or two SADARM submunitions.
- 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".
Operators
SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
—pending FMS
Foreign Military Sales
The U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program facilitates sales of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services, and military training to foreign governments...
request Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Guns
The round is compatible with the following guns:- M109A6 Paladin self-propelled 155 mm howitzer
- M198 howitzerM198 howitzerThe M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a lightweight replacement for the WWII era M114 155mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1969 with firing...
- M777 Lightweight Howitzer
- Future Combat Systems Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon
- ARCHER Artillery SystemARCHER Artillery SystemThe Archer Artillery System or Archer - FH77BW L52 is an international project aimed at developing a next-generation self-propelled artillery system for Sweden and Norway...
See also
- M712 CopperheadM712 CopperheadThe M712 Copperhead is a caliber cannon-launched, fin-stabilized, terminally laser guided, explosive projectile intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers or other high-value targets. It may be fired from different artillery pieces, such as the M114, M109 and...
- XM1156 Precision Guidance KitXM1156 Precision Guidance KitThe XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit is a U.S. Army program to develop a precision guidance system for existing 155 mm artillery shells. The prime contractor is Alliant Techsystems and the industry team includes Interstate Electronics Corporation.-Overview:...
- XM395 Precision Guided Mortar MunitionXM395 Precision Guided Mortar MunitionThe XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition was a 120 mm laser-guided mortar round under development by Alliant Techsystems.-Design:The mortar round has no moving parts and maneuvers itself to the target by means of embedded thruster motors...
- Krasnopol (Weapon)Krasnopol (Weapon)The Krasnopol is a 152/155 mm cannon-launched, fin-stabilized, semi-automatic laser-guided, explosive projectile intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers, or other high-value targets....