One of the main characteristics of an artillery gun, which has a great influence on the results of firing, is the flight range of the projectile. All leading developers of artillery weapons are trying to increase this parameter, which should have a positive effect on the combat qualities of weapons. In the United States, the task of increasing the range of fire is being solved within the framework of the promising ERCA program. In the course of work on this topic, the necessary research was carried out and several new systems were prepared.
As the American military and weapons specialists have repeatedly noted, modern 155 mm artillery pieces are capable of sending a conventional projectile at a distance of about 30 km. The use of a number of already known and new solutions, according to calculations, makes it possible to increase the firing range by two or more times. It is with this goal in mind that a new project ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) is being developed.
Project, layout and prototype
The proposal to create a promising model of howitzer artillery with increased range appeared at the beginning of this decade. The program, which later took the form of the current ERCA project, was launched in 2015. Arsenal Picatinny, which is part of the Center for Military Development, was appointed the lead contractor. The defense industry in the program was represented by BAE Systems and other organizations responsible for the supply of certain components.
Mock howitzer M777ER. US Army Photos
The research work of ERCA showed that the composition of the new artillery complex with increased characteristics should include several components of various kinds. First of all, this is a gun with a redesigned barrel and improved controls. In addition, it became necessary to develop a new projectile and a propellant charge for it. The resulting multicomponent system could be produced in a towed version or mounted on a self-propelled chassis.
All components of the ERCA artillery complex received their own working designations. The new type of howitzer is designated XM907. The guided rocket projectile for it is named XM1113, the propellant charge - XM645. Also, in the course of the program, some other samples were created with their own designations, including those indicating their origin.
In March 2016, Arsenal Picatinny and BAE Systems spoke about the completion of part of the work and the transition to a new stage. To carry out the first checks on the ERCA project, a prototype of a promising howitzer was built. This product was made on the basis of the M777A2 serial gun and was named M777ER - Extended Range. The product with the letters "ER" has retained the serial carriage and part of the artillery units. At the same time, an updated barrel group was used. The main difference between the base gun and the prototype was the increased barrel length. As part of the M777ER, instead of the standard barrel with a length of 39 calibers, an elongated 55 caliber is used. Due to this, the length of the towed gun increased by 1.8 m, and the mass by 1000 pounds (about 450 kg).
Experienced gun M777ER at the training ground. US Army Photos
The M777ER prototype could not fire and be used in full tests. Nevertheless, with his help, the project developers were able to carry out some of the necessary checks and determine all the main technical and operational features of the updated weapon. Apparently, according to the test results of the prototype, the existing project was finalized with the elimination of the main shortcomings. All this work took about a year.
At the beginning of 2017, BAE Systems built the first full-fledged prototype of the M777ER towed howitzer, capable of solving all the assigned tasks. The prototype was tested, during which it showed its capabilities. Due to the lack of new shots during the tests, existing shells and variable charges of the MACS type were used, however, in this case, remarkable characteristics were obtained. According to the Pentagon, an increase in the maximum range of fire of several kilometers was shown. However, the exact range was not disclosed.
After testing at the beginning of 2017, the M777ER gun was sent for revision and refinement. A few months later, in the middle of summer, new tests took place in the conditions of the test site. The military again dispensed with details, but reported that the events ended in success. At the end of autumn, new tests took place. This time, artillerymen from the army and the Marine Corps were involved in the work. The howitzer was to be assessed by its future operators.
While preparing to fire. US Army Photos
Last year, it was reported that the construction of new prototypes of various kinds is planned for 2018-19. In addition, during this period, the Pentagon was going to test a promising M777ER gun with a new shot. Checking the entire artillery system made it possible to count on obtaining all the desired characteristics and combat capabilities. However, the details of future events remained unknown until a certain time.
Self-propelled option
In October, the regular annual exhibition and conference of the US Army Association was held. Within the framework of this event, various news are traditionally announced and promising samples are demonstrated. This year, at the conference, for the first time, materials were shown on a new project within the framework of the ERCA program. This time it was about the creation of a promising self-propelled artillery unit, armed with an improved howitzer. A prototype has already been built, which during the tests managed to show very high combat characteristics.
The chassis of the M109 serial machine is used as the basis for the ERCA ACS. Instead of the standard turret, a different combat module with advanced equipment is used on the new self-propelled gun. Inside the turret of a new type, a gun mount, ammunition stowage and crew jobs are placed. Replacing the old howitzer with a new model using different ammunition led to the need to rebuild the entire tower, including its armored dome. In some sources, the rearmed combat vehicle is designated as M109A8, but this name is not used in official reports.
Howitzer M777UK (foreground) and basic M777A2 (rear). US Army Photos
The prototype ACS ERCA is equipped with a 155 mm XM907 gun. Unlike the previous M777ER, the new howitzer has a 58 caliber barrel. It is equipped with a developed muzzle brake, but does not have an ejector on the barrel. The charging chamber is optimized for the use of promising shots in the XM1113 projectile and XM645 charge. The experienced XM907 howitzer complies with all the main provisions of the ERCA program and is quite capable of solving the assigned tasks.
Together with the self-propelled gun of a new type, the XM1113 guided active-rocket projectile was brought out for testing. This product is a 155 mm ammunition with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead and its own solid-propellant engine. Control and guidance is carried out using inertial and satellite navigation systems, as well as using aerodynamic rudders. The projectile can be used both by promising guns and by the existing self-propelled guns of the M109 family. At the same time, a howitzer with a barrel length of 39 calibers sends it to a range of more than 40 km.
At the AUSA-2018 conference, the military spoke about the beginning of firing tests of the promising ERCA / M109A8 self-propelled gun. During the firing, using all the components of the new artillery complex, it was possible to obtain a shot range of 62 km. At the same time, it was noted that such indicators are not limiting. In the future, the system in the form of XM907, XM1113 and XM654 should show a firing range of more than 70 km. It was not specified exactly when such results will be obtained.
Experienced SPG based on the M109 with a new turret and XM907 gun. Photo Thedrive.com
Plans for the future
According to several reports of recent years, the current stages of the ERCA program will continue until the beginning of the next decade. Over the next few years, Arsenal Picatinny and related organizations will have to complete development work, and then new products can go into series, after which they will go to the troops. At the same time, the process of mastering the newest material part will be somewhat delayed.
The original plans for the ERCA program, drawn up in 2015, provided for the start of full-fledged tests in 2017-18. For the second quarter of 2019, it is planned to start serial production of one of the new products. Apparently, already in 2020, the US army will be able to receive the first serial howitzers M777ER or similar towed systems created under the ERCA program. The exact plans to start production of self-propelled artillery units with new turrets and XM907 guns have not yet been published.
The key element of the ERCA artillery complex is promising shots with an active-rocket projectile. These products will enter the series only in 2022, since some time is needed to fine-tune and improve them. The XM1113 guided projectile, capable of attacking targets at long distances and hitting them with high accuracy, has high hopes in the context of rearmament of ground artillery. Therefore, the army cannot afford to order a "raw" product, although it is ready to sacrifice time to fine-tune it.
The upgraded M109 is being tested. Photo Militaryleak.com
Technology issue
The main task of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program, as its name implies, is to radically increase the firing range of barreled artillery. As its solution, the simultaneous use of several well-known principles in combination with a completely new material part is proposed. The result of this approach has already become a shot at a distance of 62 km. It is possible that the M777ER and XM907 guns are already storming the line at the indicated 70 km, and soon the Picatinny Arsenal or the Pentagon will talk about such successes.
It should be noted that the use of obvious ideas did not relieve the authors of the ERCA project from the need to develop various components that meet the current requirements. So, at first glance, the M777ER howitzer differs from the base M777A2 only in the length of the barrel. However, according to representatives of the American army, creating a new barrel was not the easiest thing to do. It was necessary to find the optimal material and barrel design to provide the required strength.
In the next project, the XM907, a propellant charge is used, which gives more pressure in the bore, as a result of which it was necessary to create a new pipe with increased strength and stiffness characteristics. At the same time, both guns, having relatively long barrels, are distinguished by high recoil. For the compatibility of such barrel groups with existing carriages and chassis, new recoil devices and a muzzle brake were needed. Thus, the unification of the two prototypes, the M777ER and the M109A8, with the base products is much lower than it might seem.
M109 with stock turret (left) and modernized prototype (right). Photo Militaryleak.com
However, such efforts make sense. The new towed howitzer can now be built on the existing carriage without major modifications, and the promising fighting compartment for self-propelled guns is compatible with the serial chassis. At the same time, two samples of artillery weapons show a significant increase in combat characteristics.
Unfortunately, American organizations have not yet specified the cost of the promising project and the economic characteristics of its results. In 2015-17, about $ 5 million was spent on the ERCA program, but in the future, according to plans, the costs should constantly increase. The bulk of the program's budget will eventually go to the purchase of serial weapons. The total cost of a promising program, including the release of new weapons, may exceed several billion dollars. However, such expenses may be considered acceptable - given the advantages of the new designs.
Preliminary findings
Currently, the US Army's howitzer artillery, both towed and self-propelled, is capable of striking targets at ranges of no more than 30-35 km; moreover, for this she needs to use active-rocket and / or guided projectiles. In terms of range, modern modifications of the M109 self-propelled gun or the M777 towed howitzer, as well as other weapons, have almost no advantages over foreign models. Moreover, in some cases, American artillery even lags behind them.
To maintain parity or even gain an advantage, the Pentagon launched the ERCA program. In just a few years, it has led to the desired results, although so far only observed at test sites. The new artillery systems were able to show a range of more than 60 km, and this, it is said, is not the limit. Work continues, and in the future, long-barreled guns will have to launch active rockets at a distance of over 70 km.
In general, while the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program looks extremely interesting. Its technical part shows its worth, and prototypes demonstrate the desired characteristics. Thus, in just a few years, the US Army will be able to become the world leader in terms of artillery range. However, the financial specifics of the current program are not yet fully understood. The development of new projects, the construction of ready-made samples and their operation in the troops can turn out to be very expensive, which can in a certain way affect the results of the entire program.
The ERCA program has regularly shown new successes in recent years, and the Pentagon takes the opportunity to brag about them. Thus, new messages on the progress of creating promising artillery pieces may appear in the very near future. In addition, we can already expect the appearance of news about the launch of mass production and the purchase of weapons. Unless, of course, the US military department decides to complain about the excessive cost of new howitzers and the impossibility of their mass purchase.
