Raytheon Company has initiated an internally funded program to improve its combat-proven 155mm Excalibur GPS-guided projectile with a brand new guidance and navigation unit (GNU) with a semi-active laser (SAL) end-game targeting capability. Addition of the SAL seeker will allow the munition to attack moving targets, attack targets which have re-positioned after firing, or change the impact point to prevent casualties and collateral damage.

“No other gun-launched GPS-guided artillery round is as precise as Excalibur, which in its current design gives one the facility to hit within 4 meters of the objective 90 percent of the time,” said Kevin Matthies, Excalibur program director for Raytheon Missile Systems. “Now we’re able to take this to the subsequent level, giving the warfighter the flexibility not to only re-target the munition in flight, but leverage Excalibur’s maneuverability to apply the pinpoint precision of a semi-active laser seeker to hit targets at the move.”

This new Excalibur variant using SAL guidance paves the way in which for GPS-guided Excalibur Ib customers to upgrade their Excalibur Ib guidance and navigation units with a GPS/SAL capability. Recent tests of the SAL seeker have demonstrated the robustness of the design in a severe gun-firing environment.

In addition to 155mm artillery land forces worldwide, the GPS/SAL capability may be available for both 155mm and 5-inch (127mm) naval guns to handle moving targets on land and at sea. Counter-swarming boat capability would be the prime focus of the at-sea moving target capability using a high-firing rate, large caliber, affordable munition which might be fired from land or sea platforms. The transition to the naval 5-inch configuration is well made because the existing 155mm Excalibur Ib GNU design also fits in a 127mm projectile body.

“Excalibur has proven itself a useful asset for avoiding collateral damage while defeating targets that would rather be out of reach or can’t be quickly engaged,” said Michelle Lohmeier, vp of Land Combat for Raytheon Missile Systems. “The need for this degree of precision to attack moving targets is there, and we have now the flexibility to leverage demonstrated Excalibur Ib technology to make this happen.”

First fielded in 2007, the Excalibur 155mm precision-guided, extended-range projectile is a revolutionary capability for U.S. and allied forces. Using GPS precision-guidance technology, Excalibur provides accurate, first round fire-for-effect capability in any environment. With Excalibur’s level of precision, there’s a major reduction within the overall mission time and value of delivering precision. Excalibur provides these benefits while offering the foremost flexible artillery solution for reducing collateral damage. Excalibur was named one of the vital U.S. Army’s “Greatest Inventions” in 2007 for the Increment Ia-1 and in 2011 for the Increment Ia-2.

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader focusing on defense, security and civil markets within the world. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

Related Topic Tags

Related Defense, Military & Aerospace Forum Discussions