Manufacturers: Raytheon [NYSE: RTN] and General Dynamics [NYSE: GD]
The Excalibur is the newest development in Military artillery technology and precision guided munitions. Also known as the M982 ER DPICM (Extended Range Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions) Projectile, the Excallibur is a smart artillery round that has an integrated GPS tracking system along with fins and rockets that give it accuracy and range that has never been attainable with other artillery shells. The artillery round can travel over 25 miles and still hit a target 10 meters wide! The Excalibur artillery shell can deliver a wide variety of munitions depending on its objective. The secret of developing this weapon technology lied in integrating the GPS in a way that it could withstand incredible G-forces without compromising the tracking device in the artillery shell.
The extremely accurate smart Excalibur artillery shell reduces collateral damage while being extremely versatile. The Excalibur can deliver three different “blocks” as mentioned byGlobal Security
Block I consists of high-explosive, fragmenting, or penetrating unitary munitions to enhance traditional fire support operations with increased range, improved accuracy, and reduced collateral damage against personnel, light materiel, and structure targets. Block II consists of smart munitions to search, detect, acquire, and engage fleeting and short-dwell targets common to open-terrain battlefields. Block III consists of discriminating munitions to selectively identify and engage individual vehicular targets in urban environments by distinguishing specific target characteristics. Excalibur’s precision capabilities are intended to be used by Future Combat System (FCS) Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon units to provide close support to maneuver units in urban or complex terrain. Digitized lightweight 155mm howitzer systems will be used to develop and test Excalibur’s capabilities before FCS NLOS Cannon is fielded.
Manufacturers: Raytheon [NYSE: RTN] and General Dynamics [NYSE: GD]
2 Responses
These Excalibur shells are pretty awesome. I have seen some that can take out many tanks with one shell. I think the GPS withstands about 16,000 G’s which is pretty incredible.
Posted on April 1st, 2007 at 7:38 am
[...] G-forces is still underway. Similar intsrumentation protection devices have been developed in the Excalibur artillery shell which can withstand up to 16,000 [...]
Posted on May 29th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
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