XM982 Excalibur

The XM982 Excalibur is a 155 mm extended range guided artillery shell presently in development by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors.Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m982-155.htm|title=XM982 Excalibur 155mm Precision Guided Extended Range Artillery Projectile|accessdate=2007-05-27|publisher=Globalsecurity.org]

Overview

The "smart" round is expected to have a range of approximately 40 to 57 km depending on configuration with a circular error probable (CEP) of around 10 m. 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. In contrast, standard U.S. 155 mm shells have a CEP of 200 to 300 m at moderate ranges.Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m982-155.htm|title=XM982 Excalibur 155mm Precision Guided Extended Range Artillery Projectile|accessdate=2007-05-27|publisher=Globalsecurity.org]

The munition is being developed with $55.1 million in financial assistance from Sweden, which expects to receive service rounds in 2010. As of 2008, unit costs are $85,000, potentially dropping to $50,000 in full-scale production. [ [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20080828.aspx Cannot Get Enough Excalibur] ]

Initial combat experience with Excalibur in Iraq in the summer of 2007 was so successful (92% of rounds falling within 4 meters of the target) that the US Army planned to increase the production rate to 150 rounds per month vs the previous 18 rounds per month. [Aviation Week & Space Technology, 2007-09-03, page 20] [ [http://www.thelocal.se/13880/20080822/ Swedish missile among US army's favourites in Iraq] "The Local", 2008-08-22]

The combat value of the projectile was indicated by the US Army's decision to rate it as one of the "Top 10 Army Greatest Inventions of the Year Award for 2007". [ [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/US-Army-Awards-Top-10-Inventions-of-2007-04997/ US Army Awards Top 10 Inventions of 2007] Defense Industry Daily, 2008-07-27] [ [http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/05/28/9458-greatest-army-inventions-of-2007-announced/index.html Greatest Army inventions of 2007 Announced] , US Army, 2008-07-08]

Program status

* June 2005 - Raytheon awarded a $22.1 million contract for initial production. [ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3723/is_200508/ai_n14850494 Find Articles - United States Army Aug 2005] ]
* September 2005 - Successful demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. [ [http://www.rdecom.army.mil/rdemagazine/200510/itf_excalibur.html Troops could have new Picatinny-developed smart artillery munition by March - RDECOM Magazine] ]
* June 2006 - Raytheon awarded a $42.7 million contract for fiscal year 2006 production of 335 Excalibur projectiles and related test articles and services. [http://www.deagel.com/pandora/xm982-excalibur_mn00010001.aspx XM982 Excalibur - Deagel] ]
* August 2006 - Due to technical problems relating to environmental sensitivity and GPS signal lock, the expected in service date put back to Spring 2007. [ [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20060810.aspx Strategy Page - Excalibur Freeze Out] ]
* September 2006 - Successful firings in safety testing demonstrate an actual average CEP of 5m or better. [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=910473&TICK=RTNB12&STORY=/www/story/09-18-2006/0004434703&EDATE=Sep+18,+2006 Successful Safety Testing of GPS-Guided Artillery Projectile Puts Raytheon-BAE Systems Bofors' Excalibur Closer to Fielding - Raytheon] ]
* May 2007 - First operational firing of Excalibur in Iraq. [cite web|url=http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/news/stories/07May/may128.htm|title=America’s First Team first-ever to fire Excalibur precision munition in combat]
* October 2007 - FMS request by the Australian Army. Estimated cost US$40m. [ [http://www.dsca.osd.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/Australia_08-09.pdf Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 1 October 2007] ]
* April 2008 - Revised Australian FMS request. Estimated cost US$58m. [ [http://www.dsca.osd.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/Australia_08-51.pdf Defense Security Cooperation Agency, April 2008] ]

pecifications

* Caliber: 155 mm
* Guidance: GPS/INS
* Unit cost: $80,000 [ [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20060417.aspx Strategy Page - Excalibur Gets Closer and More Expensive] ]
* Range:
** Block 1a-1: 23 km
** Block 1a-2: 35 km to 40 km

Variants

There are 3 versions of the system (current development effort is towards Block I):

* Block I has a unitary penetrating warhead.
** Block Ia-1: Accelerated development, reduced range round. Entered service in 2007. [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20060821.aspx Strategy Page - Excalibur Delayed Again] ]
** 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. [cite web|url=http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2006/12-December/14-Dec-2006/FBO-01195066.htm|title=Production effort for the XM982 Excalibur unitary warhead sub-assembly] [cite web|url=http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=362|title=ATK Successfully Tests Advanced 155mm Projectile - ATK PR]

* Block II carries either 64 DPICM or 2 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

* Australia - pending FMS request
* Canada
* United States

Weapon systems

The round is compatible with the following weapon systems:
* M109A6 Paladin
* M198 howitzer
* M777 Lightweight Howitzer
* Future Combat Systems Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon
* ARCHER Artillery System

References

* Jane's Ammunition Handbook 2003-2004

ee also

* M712 Copperhead
* XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit
* XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition

External links

* [http://www.raytheon.com/products/excalibur/ EXCALIBUR PRECISION GUIDED EXTENDED RANGE ARTILLERY PROJECTILE - Raytheon]
* [http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/bofors_ab_excalibur.html EXCALIBUR - BAE Systems Bofors]
* [http://www.defense-update.com/products/e/excalibur.htm Excalibur XM982 - Defense Update]
* [http://www.metacafe.com/watch/62248/guided_artillery_projectile/ Video of Excalibur test - Metacafe]
* [http://www.raytheon.com/feature/pgp/ Missile Systems - Precision Guided Projectiles - Raytheon]