Guided munitions …
Guided munitions entered the history of howitzers relatively late, since they use electronics, which must be resistant not only to the crushing effect of a shot, but also to the destructive torsional forces created by the rifling system. In addition, receivers that are capable of quickly picking up GPS signals at the muzzle exit and at the same time withstanding enormous loads have yet to be invented
The American army tested the Excalibur guided projectile in real combat, firing it from the M109A5 Paladin and M777A2 howitzers (pictured)
The first round of the XM982 Excalibur guided projectile was fired in May 2007 near Baghdad from the M109A6 Paladin howitzer. This ammunition was developed by Raytheon in conjunction with BAE Systems Bofors and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. Directly behind the bow multi-mode fuse, it has a GPS / INS guidance unit (satellite positioning system / inertial navigation system), followed by a control compartment with four forward-opening bow rudders, then a multifunctional warhead and, finally, a bottom gas generator and rotating stabilizing surfaces.
Guided projectile Excalibur
On the ascending part of the trajectory, only inertial sensors work, when the projectile reaches its highest point, the GPS receiver is activated and after a moment the nose rudders open. Further, according to the coordinates of the target and the flight time, the flight on the middle segment of the trajectory is optimized. Nose rudders allow not only to direct the projectile to the target, but also create sufficient lift, providing a different from ballistic trajectory of controlled flight and increasing the firing range compared to standard ammunition. Finally, in accordance with the type of warhead and the type of target, the trajectory in the final section of the projectile's flight is optimized. Ammunition of the first version Increment Ia-1, used in Iraq and Afghanistan, did not have a bottom gas generator and their range was limited to 24 km. The data from the front line showed 87% reliability and an accuracy of less than 10 meters. With the addition of a bottom gas generator, the Increment Ia-2 projectiles, also known as M982, could fly over 30 km. However, problems with the reliability of the MACS 5 (Modular Artillery Charge System) propellants limited their range; in Afghanistan in 2011, Excalibur shells were fired with charges of 3 and 4. Harsh criticism of these first Excalibur shells was associated with their high cost, which was affected by the reduction in purchases of version Ia-2 shells from 30,000 to 6246 pieces.
US Army gunners ready to fire an Excalibur round. The Ib variant has been produced since April 2014, it is not only cheaper than its predecessors, but also more accurate.
Excalibur Ib, which is currently being mass-produced, is ready to enter the foreign market. A laser-guided version of this projectile is being developed.
Since 2008, the US Army has been striving to improve the reliability and reduce the cost of new ammunition and, in this regard, has issued two contracts for design and revision. In August 2010, she chose Raytheon to fully refine and produce the Excalibur Ib projectile, which replaced the Ia-2 variant on Raytheon's production lines in April 2014 and is currently in serial production. According to the company, its cost has been reduced by 60% while improving performance; acceptance tests showed that 11 shells fell an average of 1.26 meters from the target and 30 shells fell an average of 1.6 meters from the target. In total, 760 live rounds were fired by this projectile in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Excalibur has a multi-mode fuse, programmable as shock, delayed shock or air blast. In addition to the American army and the Marine Corps, the Excalibur projectile is also in service with Australia, Canada and Sweden.
For the foreign market, Raytheon decided to develop the Excalibur-S projectile, which also features a laser homing head (GOS) with a semi-active laser guidance function. The first tests of the new version were carried out in May 2014 at the Yuma test site. The first stages of guidance are the same as in the main variant of Excalibur, at the last stage it activates its laser seeker in order to lock the target due to the reflected coded laser beam. This allows you to direct the ammunition with great accuracy at the intended target (even a moving one) or another target within the field of view of the seeker when the tactical situation changes. For the Excalibur-S, the date of entry into service has not yet been announced; Raytheon is awaiting a starter customer to complete the concept of operations, which will enable the qualification test process to begin. Raytheon used the experience of creating Excalibur in the development of a 127-mm guided ammunition for naval guns, designated Excalibur N5 (Naval 5 - marine, 5 inches [or 127 mm]), in which 70% of the 155-mm projectile technology and 100% its navigation and guidance systems. According to Raytheon, the new projectile will more than triple the range of the Mk45 ship cannon. The company also said that its testing "provided Raytheon with the data necessary to move to firing tests of controlled flight in the near future."
The MS-SGP (Multi Service-Standard Guided Projectile) projectile of BAE Systems is part of a joint program aimed at providing shipborne and ground artillery with long-range guided artillery ammunition. The new 5-inch (127 mm) projectile in the ground version will be sub-caliber, with a detachable pallet. When creating the guidance system, the experience of developing the 155-mm LRLAP (Long Range Land Attack Projectile) projectile, designed for firing from the Advanced Gun System naval guns manufactured by BAE Systems, standing on Zumwalt class destroyers, was used. The guidance system is based on inertial systems and GPS, the communication channel allows you to re-target the projectile in flight (flight time at 70 km is three minutes 15 seconds). The MS-SGP jet engine was tested; the projectile performed a controlled flight when firing from the ship's Mk 45 cannon, reaching the target located at a distance of 36 km, at an angle of 86 ° and with an error of only 1.5 meters. BAE Systems is ready to manufacture test shells for ground platforms; the difficulty here is to check the correct functioning of the breech with a projectile 1.5 meters long and weighing 50 kg (16, 3 of them falls on the high-explosive fragmentation part). According to BAE Systems, the accuracy and angle of incidence largely compensate for the reduced lethality of the sub-caliber projectile, which also results in a reduction in indirect losses. Another major challenge in the upcoming tests is to determine the reliability of the holding device used to fix the front and rear rudders in the folded state until the projectile leaves the muzzle. I must say that for naval guns, such a problem naturally does not exist. The angle of incidence of the projectile, which can reach 90 ° compared to 62 ° typical for ballistic projectiles, allows the MS-SGP to be used in “urban canyons” to engage relatively small targets, which until now required more expensive weapons systems to neutralize. BAE Systems reports the cost of the projectile well below $ 45,000. She is collecting additional test data that would clarify the maximum ranges of the guided MS-SGP projectile. A recently published test report states that the maximum range is 85 km when fired with a 39 caliber gun with a MAC 4 modular charge and 100 km with a MAC 5 charge (which increases to 120 km when fired with a 52 caliber gun). As for the ship version, it has a range of 100 km when firing from a 62 caliber gun (Mk 45 Mod 4) and 80 km from a 54 caliber gun (Mk45 Mod 2). According to BAE Systems and the US Army, 20 rounds of MS-SGP guided munitions at a target of 400x600 meters can have the same impact as 300 conventional 155mm rounds. In addition, MS-SGP will reduce the number of artillery battalions by one third. The phased program provides for a further increase in the capabilities of the MS-SGP projectile. To this end, it is planned to install an inexpensive optical / infrared seeker so that it can destroy moving targets. In 2016, the US Navy plans to begin a procurement program for a 127-mm guided projectile, while the army should begin this process at a later date.
155-mm Vulcano projectile from Oto Melara. When firing from a 155-mm / 52 cannon, the extended-range variant will have a firing range of 50 km, and the guided variant will have a range of 80 km.
The MS-SGP guided projectile is a 127-mm shipborne ammunition with a detachable pallet, which can also be fired from 155-mm howitzers and reach a range of 120 km when fired from a 52-caliber cannon.
With the aim of increasing the range and accuracy of land and ship guns, Oto Melara has developed the Vulcano family of ammunition. In accordance with an agreement signed in 2012 between Germany and Italy, the program for this ammunition is currently being carried out jointly with the German company Diehl Defense. While the development of a 127 mm caliber projectile and later 76 mm caliber was carried out for naval guns, they stopped at 155 mm caliber for ground platforms. At the last stage of development, there are three variants of the 155-mm Vulcano projectile: unguided ammunition BER (Ballistic Extended Range), GLR (Guided Long Range) with INS / GPS guidance at the end of the trajectory and the third variant with semi-active laser guidance (a variant with a seeker in the far infrared region of the spectrum is also being developed, but only for naval artillery). The control compartment with four rudders is located in the bow of the projectile. Increasing the range while maintaining internal ballistics, chamber pressure and barrel length means an improvement in external ballistics and, as a consequence, a decrease in aerodynamic drag. The 155mm artillery shell has a diameter to length ratio of approximately 1: 4.7. For the Vulcano sub-caliber projectile, this ratio is approximately 1:10. In order to reduce aerodynamic drag and sensitivity to crosswind, a scheme with tail rudders was adopted. The only drawback is inherited from the pallets, as they need a relatively wide safety zone in front of the cannon. Vulcano BER is equipped with a specially designed fuse, which for a 127 mm projectile has four modes: impact, remote, temporary and air detonation.
For the 155-mm version of the ammunition, a remote fuse is not provided. In air firing mode, the microwave sensor measures the distance to the ground, initiating a firing chain in accordance with the programmed altitude. The fuse is programmed using the induction method, if the tool is not equipped with a built-in programming system, then a portable programming device can be used. Programming is also used in shock and time modes, as for the second mode, a delay can be set here in order to optimize the impact of the projectile in the final section of the trajectory. As a safety measure and to avoid unexploded ordnance, the remote fuse will always be detonated on impact. Vulcano projectiles with an INS / GPS guidance unit have a fuse that is very similar to the fuse of the 155-mm BER version, but slightly different in shape. As for the Vulcano shells with a semi-active laser / infrared seeker, they, of course, are equipped only with a shock fuse. Based on experience with these fuses, Oto Melara has developed a new 4AP (4 Action Plus) fuse for full bore 76mm, 127mm and 155mm ammunition, which has the four modes described above. The 4AP fuse is in the last stages of development, in the first half of 2015 it passed its qualification tests. Oto Melara expects first deliveries of series products in autumn 2015. Vulcano ammunition has a warhead equipped with an insensitive explosive with a notch on the body for the formation of a certain number of tungsten fragments of different sizes. It, along with the optimal mode of the fuse, programmed in accordance with the target, guarantees a lethality, which, according to Oto Melara, is twice as good as that of traditional ammunition, even considering the smaller size of the warhead of the sub-caliber projectile.
An extended-range sub-caliber version of the Oto Melara Vulcano ammunition, whose production should begin at the end of 2015
A variant of the Vulcano ammunition with a semi-active laser was developed by Oto Melara in conjunction with the German Diehl Defense, which was responsible for the development of the laser system.
An unguided BER projectile flies along a ballistic trajectory and, when fired from a 52 caliber cannon, can fly up to a range of 50 km. The GLR Vulcano projectile is programmed using a command device (portable or integrated into the system). After firing a shot, its thermally activated battery and receiver are turned on and the projectile is initialized with preprogrammed data. After passing the highest point of the trajectory, the inertial navigation system directs the projectile to the target in the middle section of the trajectory. In the case of a semi-active laser homing ammunition, its seeker receives the encoded laser beam at the end of the trajectory. The GLR variant with inertial / GPS guidance can fly 80 km when fired from a 52 caliber barrel and 55 km when fired from a 39 caliber barrel; the variant with laser semi-active / GPS / inertial guidance has a slightly shorter range due to the aerodynamic shape of its seeker.
The 155-mm Vulcano ammunition was chosen by the Italian and German armies for their PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. Demonstration fires conducted in July 2013 in South Africa showed that the unguided BER variant had a CEP (circular probable deviation) from the target of 2x2 meters within 20 meters, while the version with GPS / SAL (semi-active laser) hit the same shield at a distance of 33 km. In January 2015, the comprehensive testing program began, it will run until mid-2016, when the qualification process is completed. The tests are carried out jointly by Germany and Italy at their shooting ranges, as well as in South Africa. The Oto Melara company, while remaining the lead performer in the Vulcano program, wants to start supplying the first shells to the Italian army in late 2016 and early 2017. Other countries have also shown interest in the Vulcano program, especially the United States, which is interested in shells for naval guns.
With the acquisition of the ammunition manufacturers Mecar (Belgium) and Simmel Difesa (Italy) in the spring of 2014, the French company Nexter is now able to close 80% of all types of ammunition, from medium to large caliber, direct fire and indirect fire. The direction of 155-mm ammunition is the responsibility of the Nexter Munitions division, whose portfolio includes one already existing guided ammunition and one in development. The first of them is the armor-piercing Bonus MkII with two 6, 5-kg self-aiming warheads with an infrared seeker. After separation, these two combat elements descend at a speed of 45 m / s, rotating at a speed of 15 revolutions per minute, while each of them scans 32,000 square meters. meters of the earth's surface. When a target is detected at an ideal height, an impact core is formed above it, which pierces the vehicle's armor from above. The Bonus Mk II is in service with France, Sweden and Norway; Finland recently bought a small number of such shells. In addition, its compatibility with the Polish self-propelled howitzer Krab has already been demonstrated.
In collaboration with TDA, Nexter is currently conducting a preliminary feasibility study for a laser-guided projectile with a CEP of less than one meter. 155-mm projectile was designated MPM (Metric Precision Munition - ammunition with meter accuracy); it will be equipped with a strapdown laser semi-active seeker, nose rudders and an optional mid-trajectory navigation system. Without the latter, the range will be limited to 28 km instead of 40 km. A projectile less than one meter long will be compatible with calibers 39 and 52 described in the Joint Ballistics Memorandum. The MPM demonstration program was completed as planned in 2013; then the development phase was supposed to begin, but it was postponed until 2018. However, the French General Directorate of Armaments has allocated funds to continue work on GPS-based navigation, thus confirming the need for MPM ammunition.
The Nexter Bonus ammunition is equipped with two combat elements designed to destroy heavy armored vehicles from above. Adopted by France and some Scandinavian countries
Nexter and TDA are working on a high-precision 155-mm metric Precision Munition projectile, which, as the name implies, should provide an air defense of less than a meter.
A Russian company from Tula KBP has been working on laser-guided artillery ammunition since the late 70s. In the mid-1980s, the Soviet army adopted a Krasnopol guided missile with a range of 20 km, which is capable of striking targets moving at a speed of 36 km / h with a hit probability of 70-80%. 152-mm projectile 2K25 1305 mm long weighs 50 kg, high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighs 20, 5 kg and explosives 6, 4 kg. In the middle section of the trajectory, inertial guidance directs the projectile to the target area, where a semi-active laser seeker is activated. A 155-mm version of Krasnopol KM-1 (or K155) with very similar physical parameters is also offered. This ammunition requires not only a target designator, but also a set of radio equipment and synchronization means; target designation is used at a distance of 7 km from stationary targets and 5 km from moving targets. For export, an updated 155-mm version of the KM-2 (or K155M) was developed. The new projectile is slightly shorter and heavier, 1200 mm and 54.3 kg, respectively, equipped with a warhead weighing 26.5 kg and an explosive weighing 11 kg. The maximum range is 25 km, the probability of hitting a moving tank has increased to 80-90%. The Krasnopol armament complex includes the Malachite automatic fire control station, which includes a laser designator. The Chinese company Norinco has developed its own version of the Krasnopol ammunition.
Several years ago, the KBP developed a 155-mm version of the Krasnopol ammunition, equipped with a French semi-active laser seeker
… high-precision guidance kits …
Alliant Techsystems' Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) has been field proven. In the summer of 2013, about 1,300 such kits were delivered to the American contingent stationed in Afghanistan. The first export contract was not long in coming, Australia requested over 4,000 kits, and in 2014 another 2,000 systems. The PGK has its own power source, it is screwed onto the artillery shell instead of the native fuse, the kit works as a percussion or remote fuse. The length of the high-precision aiming head is 68.6 mm, which is more than that of the MOFA (Multi-Option Fuze, Artillery) fuse and therefore the PGK is not compatible with all projectiles. Let's start from the bottom, first there is the MOFA adapter, then the M762 safety and cocking device, then the thread onto which the PGK kit is screwed, the first part outside is the GPS receiver (SAASM - anti-jamming module with selective accessibility), then four rudders and at the very end remote fuse detonation sensor.
The gun calculation winds the PGK onto the hull, leaving the shroud in place as it also acts as an interface with the fuse installer. The Epiafs (Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter) fuse installer is the same as Raytheon's Excalibur, and comes with an integration kit that allows it to be integrated into a fire control system or an advanced GPS DAGR receiver. The installer is located above the nose of the PGK, this allows you to connect the power and enter all the necessary data, such as the location of the gun and target, trajectory information, GPS cryptographic keys, GPS information, exact time and data for setting the fuse. The cover is removed before loading and discharging.
Alliant Techsystems Precision Guidance Kit
The kit contains only one moving part, a block of bow rudders that rotate around the longitudinal axis; the guide surfaces of the rudders have a certain bevel. The rudder unit is connected to a generator, its rotation generates electrical energy and energizes the battery. Next, the system receives a GPS signal, navigation is set up and 2-D guidance begins, while the GPS coordinates are compared with the specified ballistic trajectory of the projectile. The flight of the projectile is corrected by slowing down the rotation of the control steering surfaces, which begin to create lift; signals coming from the guidance unit rotate the nose rudder unit in such a way as to orient the lift vector and accelerate or slow down the fall of the projectile, the guidance of which continues until the impact with the required CEP of 50 meters. If the projectile loses the GPS signal or leaves the trajectory as a result of a strong gust of wind, the automatic turns off the PGK and makes it inert, which can significantly reduce indirect losses. ATK has developed the final version of the PGK, which can be installed on the new M795 projectile with an insensitive explosive. This version passed acceptance tests of the first sample at the Yuma proving ground in January 2015; shells were fired from M109A6 Paladin and M777A2 howitzers. He easily passed the test on the KVO 30 meters, while most of the shells fell within 10 meters of the target. Initial production of a small batch of the PGK has now been approved, and the company is awaiting a batch production contract. In order to expand the client base, the PGK kit was installed in German artillery shells and in October 2014 was fired from a German PzH 2000 howitzer with a 52 caliber barrel. Some projectiles were fired in MRSI mode (simultaneous impact of several projectiles; the angle of inclination of the barrel changes and all projectiles fired within a certain time interval arrive at the target simultaneously); many fell within five meters of the target, which is significantly less than the predicted KVO.
BAE Systems is developing its own Silver Bullet guidance kit for 155mm ammunition, which is based on GPS signals. The kit is a screw-in device with four rotating bow rudders. After the shot, immediately after leaving the barrel, the power supply begins to the guidance unit, then during the first five seconds the warhead stabilizes, and in the ninth second, navigation is activated to correct the trajectory all the way to the target. The declared accuracy is less than 20 meters, however, the goal of BAE Systems is KVO 10 meters. The kit can be used in other types of projectiles, for example active-reactive projectiles, as well as with bottom gas generators, which increases accuracy at long distances. The Silver Bullet kit is at the stage of development of a technological prototype, it has already been demonstrated, after which preparations began for the next stage - qualification testing. BAE Systems hopes that the kit will be fully ready in two years.
The Norinco GP155B laser-guided ammunition is based on the Russian Krasnopol projectile and has a range of 6 to 25 km
ATK's Precision Guidance Kit mounts on two different types of ammunition, a 105mm artillery shell (left) and a 120mm mortar mine (right)
The photo clearly shows the elongated shape of the rear of the PGK high-precision guidance system, which is only compatible with projectiles that have a deep fuse slot.
The Spacido heading correction system, developed by the French company Nexter, cannot be called a guidance system in its purest form, although it significantly reduces the range dispersion, which usually significantly exceeds the side dispersion. The system was developed in collaboration with Junghans T2M. Spacido is installed instead of a fuse, as it has its own fuse. When installed on a high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, Spacido is equipped with a multi-mode fuse with four modes: with a preset time, shock, delayed, remote. When mounted on a cluster munition, the Spacido fuse operates only in the preset time mode. After firing, an escort radar mounted on the armament platform tracks the projectile for the first 8-10 seconds of flight, determines the projectile's velocity and sends an RF-coded signal to the Spacido system. This signal contains the time after which the three Spacido discs begin to rotate, thereby ensuring that the projectile arrives accurately (or almost exactly) on the target. The system is currently in the final stages of development and Nexter has finally found a test range in Sweden at the highest possible ranges (in Europe it is very difficult to find a range with a long range director). It is planned to complete qualification tests there by the end of the year.
Some time ago, the Serbian company Yugoimport developed a very similar system, but its development was stopped pending funding from the Serbian Ministry of Defense.
Nexter Spacido Heading Correction System
Raytheon's Epiafs fuse installer allows you to program a variety of temporary fuses, such as the M762 / M762A1, M767 / M767A1 and M782 Multi Option Fuze, as well as the PGK targeting kit and the M982 Excalibur guided projectile
… and traditional ammunition
New developments have affected not only guided munitions. The Norwegian Army and the Norwegian Logistics Directorate have signed a contract with Nammo to develop a completely new family of 155-mm low-sensitivity ammunition. The High Explosive-Extended Range was developed only by Nammo. Before loading, either a bottom gas generator or a bottom recess can be installed into it, respectively, when firing from a 52 caliber barrel, the range is 40 or 30 km. The warhead is loaded with 10 kg of Chemring Nobel's MCX6100 IM low-sensitivity cast explosive, and the fragments are optimized to destroy vehicles with 10 mm thick homogeneous armor. The Norwegian army plans to receive a projectile that, in terms of impact, at least partially coincides with the currently banned cluster munitions. Currently, the projectile is undergoing a qualification process, the initial batch is expected in mid-2016, and the first serial deliveries at the end of the same year.
The Spacido system, developed by Nexter, can significantly reduce range dispersion, which is one of the main reasons for inaccurate artillery fire.
BAE Systems is developing a Silver Bullet precision guidance kit that will be available in two years
The second product is the Illuminating-Extended Range, developed in collaboration with BAE Systems Bofors. In fact, two types of projectile are being developed using Mira technology, one with white light (in the visible spectrum) and the other with infrared illumination. The projectile unfolds at an altitude of 350-400 meters (less problems with clouds and wind), instantly flashes and burns with a constant intensity, at the end of the combustion there is a sharp cut-off. The burning time of the white light version is 60 seconds, while the low burning rate of the infrared composition allows the area to be illuminated for 90 seconds. These two projectiles are very similar in ballistics. Qualification is due to end in July 2017 and serial deliveries are expected in July 2018. The smoke projectile, also being developed with the participation of BAE Systems, will appear six months later. It contains three containers filled with red phosphorus, while Nammo is looking to replace it with a more effective substance. After leaving the shell of the projectile, the containers open six petal brakes that have several functions: they limit the speed at which they hit the ground, act as aerodynamic brakes, ensure that the burning surface always stays on top, and finally ensure that the container does not penetrate deep into the ground. snow, and this is important for the northern countries. Last, but not least in the lineup, the projectile is the Training Practice-Extended Range; it has the timing of the HE-ER high-explosive fragmentation projectile and is being developed in unguided and sighting configurations. The new family of ammunition qualifies for firing from the M109A3 howitzer, but the company also plans to fire it from the Swedish Archer self-propelled gun. Nammo is also in talks with Finland about the possibility of firing a 155 K98 howitzer and hopes to test its shells with a PzH 2000 howitzer.
Rheinmetall Denel is close to delivering the first production batch of its M0121 low-sensitivity high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, which it intends to deliver in 2015 to an unnamed NATO country. The same customer will then receive an upgraded version of the M0121, which will feature a deep fuse socket, which will allow the installation of trajectory corrected fuses or ATK's PGK kit, which is longer than standard fuses. According to Rheimetall, the Assegai ammunition family, which is expected to qualify in 2017, will be the first 155mm ammunition family that is specifically designed for 52 caliber guns that are NATO-qualified. This family includes the following types of projectiles: high-explosive fragmentation, illuminating in the visible and infrared spectra, smoke with red phosphorus; they all have the same ballistic characteristics and an interchangeable bottom gasifier and tapered tail section.
Nammo has developed a whole family of 155-mm low-sensitivity ammunition specifically for 52 caliber guns, which will appear in the army in 2016-2018.
