Modern 155 mm cannons and howitzers in service with various countries are capable of sending shells at a range of at least 20-25 km. At the same time, the development of artillery continues, and one of its tasks is to further increase the firing range. To achieve such goals, various options are proposed for the refinement of guns and ammunition for them. Let's consider the most interesting projects in this area.
Elongated implements
Over the past few years, the US Army, represented by Arsenal Picatinny, and BAE Systems have been working on the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) project, which aims to create a promising howitzer with an increased firing range. Work in this direction began with a deep modernization of the M777A2 product, which is in service with the US Army. After this modification, the gun received the index M777ER.
The main difference between the M777ER howitzer is the new barrel with increased length. In the basic configuration, its length is 39 calibers, after modernization - 55. The long barrel allows more full use of the energy of the powder gases, but at the same time increases the load on the gun units. For the M777ER, an improved bolt, a new muzzle brake and reinforced recoil devices had to be developed.
Despite the improvements, the gun remains compatible with NATO standard 155 mm rounds. At the same time, the use of ammunition with variable charges Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) is proposed. In the future, the M777ER may receive new projectiles with various capabilities. An improved loading mechanism is intended to work with shots.
The carriage of the basic howitzer remains unchanged. An advanced fire control system is mounted on it, capable of generating data for firing at increased distances.
The M777ER prototype was taken for testing in the spring of 2016. At the beginning of 2017, a full-fledged prototype was sent to the test site. In the fall of 2018, testers talked about obtaining high performance. Using conventional "blanks", the ERCA cannon was able to attack the target at a distance of 40 km. The use of an active-rocket projectile increased the range to 70 km. For comparison, the maximum firing range of the M777A2 reaches 40 km.
In 2018, a prototype ACS M109A8 / XM1299 was built, using the solutions of the ERCA program. This self-propelled gun carries a new 155-mm gun with a barrel length of 58 calibers. In terms of its tactical and technical characteristics, the XM1299 will have to surpass the existing ACS of the American army.
The results of the M777ER project will be summed up next year, after which the launch of serial production of howitzers with an extended barrel is expected. The XM1299 self-propelled guns are planned to be delivered in a small series in 2022-24. Thus, by the mid-twenties, the US Army can get new models of artillery, the characteristics of which are increased only through design improvements.
American shells
In parallel with the guns of the ERCA family, Arsenal Picatinny, together with a number of other organizations, is developing new artillery ammunition. These samples are still known under the working designations XM1113 and XM1115. Shells of new types should provide an increase in the combat qualities of promising weapons in all expected conditions.
The XM1113 product is an active-reactive high-explosive fragmentation munition equipped with a Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) device. The latter is a combined system with satellite navigation facilities, aerodynamic rudders and a fuse. PGK is installed in the standard head socket of the projectile. The projectile is proposed to be used with a variable charge XM654.
The XM1115 projectile is similar to the XM1113, but must have different controls and guidance. Its main difference lies in the ability to solve combat missions in the absence of GPS signals. It uses different navigation methods.
To date, the XM1113 guided projectile has managed to go to tests and show high performance. During test firing, he ensured hitting a target at a distance of 72 km with acceptable accuracy. The refinement and improvement of the XM1113 continues. Testing of the XM1115 will begin soon. Over the next few years, it is planned to bring the firing range to 100 km.
Run by "Volcano"
BAE Systems and Leonardo are developing a whole family of Vulcano artillery shells of various calibers, which will include ammunition for different types of cannons and howitzers. A universal platform for the creation of conventional and guided projectiles with a caliber of 76 to 155 mm is offered. The largest samples of the family are intended for ground artillery.
Vulcano in 155-mm version is made in the form of a sub-caliber ammunition with protruding rudders and stabilizers, the maximum diameter of which is 127 mm. The optimal aerodynamic design of the product allows to obtain high flight characteristics without the use of a gas generator or its own engine. An explosive charge and semi-finished striking elements in the form of tungsten rings of a special configuration are placed in the shell of the projectile.
There are two versions of the 155mm Vulcan projectile. The first is designated as Ballistic Extended Range (BER) and is an unguided ammunition with a programmable fuse that has several modes of operation. When using standard M777 or M109 guns, the Vulcano BER should have a range of up to 40 km. The M777ER will provide a range of over 75 km.
The second version of the projectile is called the Guided Long Range (GLR). It has inertial and satellite navigation, as well as a set of rudders for control. In the future, it is planned to create a semi-active laser homing head, which provides guidance on the descending part of the trajectory. A controlled GLR, fired from standard howitzers, will be able to fly up to 60 km. For guns of the ERCA family, the range will exceed 100 km.
Currently, BAE / Leonardo Vulcano shells are being tested and confirm the declared characteristics. There are some difficulties, but the developers are optimistic. In the foreseeable future, the shells of the new family may find use in the armies of the United States and other countries. 155-mm ammunition is intended for land howitzers, 76- and 127-mm products - for naval guns.
Direct flow concept
The Norwegian company Nammo participates in international projects of artillery ammunition, and also develops its own ideas. Last year, for the first time, it showed a prototype of a promising 155-mm extended-range ammunition. Due to a fundamentally new solution, it is planned to obtain a firing range of more than 100 km with a reduced dependence on the capabilities of the gun.
The concept from Nammo provides for equipping the projectile with a ramjet engine with a frontal air intake. Also, the product must receive navigation aids and a steering system. It was possible to place control electronics, a warhead and a supply of solid fuel for a flight at a distance of at least 100 km in the 155-mm case.
At the time of the first demonstration of the layout, a full-fledged projectile was being designed. Its tests were planned for 2019-2020. As far as is known, the tests have not started yet. The proposed look looks interesting and promising, but the ammunition needs to be worked out and fine-tuned. What the results of the Nammo project will be is unknown.
Achievements and plans
Foreign countries, primarily the United States, are showing great interest in promising land artillery systems with an increased firing range. This interest has already led to the launch of a number of promising projects that have yielded definite results. Some promising products have reached testing, while others will go to the test site in the very near future.
At the moment, within the framework of ERCA programs, XM1113 / 1115, etc. managed to get a firing range of more than 70 km with sufficient hitting accuracy. Due to the development of existing projects and the introduction of new products, the range of 155-mm systems is expected to be increased to 90-100 km. This will provide the artillery of the United States and other countries with certain advantages over a potential adversary.
The views of foreign military personnel on extended-range artillery are curious. Cannons and high-precision projectiles of this kind are not considered as a means of striking area targets. On the contrary, it is proposed to use single projectiles for accurate destruction of specific targets. This should reduce the consumption of ammunition and reduce the cost of the strike, as well as reduce collateral damage. How useful this approach will be is unknown, but so far it looks very interesting.
In recent years, a number of organizations from the United States and other countries have found fundamental solutions for the problem of increasing the range and accuracy of barreled artillery fire. However, the work does not stop there. In recent projects, it was possible to double the firing range in comparison with serial samples, and now the designers are striving to triple this parameter. A new breakthrough is planned in artillery.
