Field towed 155-mm howitzer М777А2 - the lightest in its class
The fighting in Afghanistan, in which the United States and its allies took an active part, clearly showed that the towed artillery systems in service are rather cumbersome and poorly suited for fighting in mountainous terrain. Under these conditions, the US Marine Corps for some time was forced to use more mobile, but at the same time less powerful fire weapons, such as mortars. The new field towed 155-mm howitzer М777А2, which is the easiest howitzer of this class in the world, was able to change the situation. In the army, she replaced the main towed howitzer МХNUMX, significantly surpassing its mobility and transportation capabilities.
The howitzer М777 was developed by the British defense company BAE Systems. The main operator of this howitzer is the US Army. In total, US forces have made an order for the supply of 1001 howitzers: 580 - Marine Corps, 421 - Army and National Guard. Currently, up to 70% of all parts used in howitzer production are of American origin, including its barrel, which is made in the Watervliet arsenal. The total amount of the American order, apparently, exceeds 2 billion dollars.
М777 became the first field howitzer, in the construction of which titanium and aluminum alloys were widely used in the production. Due to this, much less weight of the gun was achieved, compared with other similar 155-mm caliber artillery systems. For comparison, the weight of 152-mm towed howitzer "Msta-B" of Soviet production, which is still in service with the Russian army and some CIS countries, is 7 tons.
М777 is designed to replace outdated howitzers M198. New howitzer has improved performance, and most importantly significantly lower weight. It is lighter than the M198 in almost 2 times, M198 weighs 7154 kg, and M777 weighs only 4218 kg. Thanks to a significant reduction in weight, the new howitzer has become more mobile and transportable. So, for example, a howitzer can be transported on the external sling of medium-sized CH-47 “Chinook” transport helicopters and convertible planes V-22 Osprey. If we talk about transport aircraft C-130 "Hercules", then one such transporter is able to take on board 2 howitzer М777А2 instead of 1 howitzer М198. The howitzer was actively used by the American and Canadian military in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Taliban militants reportedly called this howitzer the “Desert Dragon”.
The new howitzer is able to use all types of ammunition developed for its predecessor. At the same time, its main advantages are ease of transportation, speed of deployment, high survival rate. The M777 field towed howitzer enters the DFCS digital fire control system, which provides gunners with the ability to receive target coordinates directly from the fire control center and use the global GPS navigation system to determine the location and subsequent shelling of targets. Reducing the time of receipt and entry of incoming data allows for a faster rate of fire. Under normal conditions, howitzer firing rate is 2 shot per minute, maximum rate of fire - 5 shots.
The maximum length of the howitzer in a combat position is 10,7 meters, the minimum length during transportation is 9,5 meters. Barrel length - 39 calibers. The minimum number of calculations can be 5 people. For the howitzers М198, the number of calculations was 9 people. The M777 howitzer provides destruction of targets located at a distance of up to 24,7 km. With conventional ammunition and at a distance of up to 30 km. Using projectiles with rocket boosters. The maximum projectile speed is up to 2900 km / h, while, despite the low mass, the howitzer does not go out of balance at the moment of the shot. The A2 version of the howitzer uses updated software that allows the rifle to use the 155-mm M982 Escalibur guided artillery shells with a satellite guidance system in combat. The use of these projectiles allows the howitzer M777A2 to fire at targets within a distance of 40 km. In this case, the circular probable deviation is only 10 meters.
Currently, howitzer M777A2 is quite popular in the market of artillery weapons. Today, these howitzers are in service with Canada and Australia, the first to receive 37 artillery systems, the second 35. In addition, an order for 15 howitzers was made by the Thai armed forces, and India is considering the possibility of acquiring 145 lightweight howitzers M777A2. Representatives of the Indian armed forces announced their desire to acquire howitzers as early as January 2010.
M982 Excalibur
The M982 Excalibur is an 155-mm controlled active-projectile (APC) of increased flight range, intended for use by the barrel artillery. Developed by BAE Systems Bofors and Raytheon Missile Systems. In June, 2008 passed the test of an upgraded version of the projectile, the bottom of which was made of titanium. This made it possible to reduce the number of parts used and the cost of the projectile, as well as reduce its weight and increase the flight range. The bottom gas generator used in the projectile adds additional energy to the ammunition, allowing it to reach the firing range to 60 km. Duplex projectile control system - inertial and GPS. The projectile is made according to the aerodynamic scheme "duck", the warhead is a multi-purpose.
“Intellectual” ammunition has a firing range from 24 to 60 km, the circular probable deviation (CEP) is 10 meters. When used with the M777A2 howitzer, the firing range is 40 km. and is largely limited to a small barrel length in 39 calibers. Increasing the range of the projectile occurs through the use of folding aerodynamic consoles, which allow it to plan on the target from the top of the ballistic flight path. High accuracy of hit is achieved due to the existing GPS signal receiver. For comparison, the KVO of standard American 155-mm projectiles when firing at an average range is 200-300 meters.
The Excalibur project was developed jointly with the participation of Sweden, which invested in the development of 55,1 projectile millions of dollars, the Swedes hoped to receive the first ammunition in 2010 year. In 2008, the cost of producing one projectile was 85 000 dollars, in the manufacture of large quantities, the cost of the projectile is reduced to 50 000 dollars. The first experience of the combat use of these shells in Iraq occurred in the summer of 2007. He was so successful (92% of shells dropped within 4 meters from the target) that the US Army increased the order for the production of these shells from 18 to 150 units per month.
Currently there are 3 modifications of this ammunition.
M982 Excalibur Block I - projectile with unitary penetrating warhead, exists in 3 variants
- Block Ia-1 - accelerated development of a projectile with a reduced firing range, is in service with the 2007 year;
- Block Ia-2 - projectile with an increased range of fire;
- Block Ib - projectile with reduced cost and full implementation of tactical and technical requirements. Its development will be again put up for the competition.
M982 Excalibur Block II - A cassette version of the projectile containing 64 submunition type DPICM or 2 type SADARM.
M982 Excalibur Block III - the version of the projectile, carrying some kind of intelligent combat equipment, which is subject to increased requirements for "recognition, detection and tracking of targets in a complex urban environment.
Information sources:
http://www.arms-expo.ru/049057052048124055056050054.html
http://news.a42.ru/news/item/59403/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
The howitzer М777 was developed by the British defense company BAE Systems. The main operator of this howitzer is the US Army. In total, US forces have made an order for the supply of 1001 howitzers: 580 - Marine Corps, 421 - Army and National Guard. Currently, up to 70% of all parts used in howitzer production are of American origin, including its barrel, which is made in the Watervliet arsenal. The total amount of the American order, apparently, exceeds 2 billion dollars.
М777 became the first field howitzer, in the construction of which titanium and aluminum alloys were widely used in the production. Due to this, much less weight of the gun was achieved, compared with other similar 155-mm caliber artillery systems. For comparison, the weight of 152-mm towed howitzer "Msta-B" of Soviet production, which is still in service with the Russian army and some CIS countries, is 7 tons.
М777 is designed to replace outdated howitzers M198. New howitzer has improved performance, and most importantly significantly lower weight. It is lighter than the M198 in almost 2 times, M198 weighs 7154 kg, and M777 weighs only 4218 kg. Thanks to a significant reduction in weight, the new howitzer has become more mobile and transportable. So, for example, a howitzer can be transported on the external sling of medium-sized CH-47 “Chinook” transport helicopters and convertible planes V-22 Osprey. If we talk about transport aircraft C-130 "Hercules", then one such transporter is able to take on board 2 howitzer М777А2 instead of 1 howitzer М198. The howitzer was actively used by the American and Canadian military in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Taliban militants reportedly called this howitzer the “Desert Dragon”.
The new howitzer is able to use all types of ammunition developed for its predecessor. At the same time, its main advantages are ease of transportation, speed of deployment, high survival rate. The M777 field towed howitzer enters the DFCS digital fire control system, which provides gunners with the ability to receive target coordinates directly from the fire control center and use the global GPS navigation system to determine the location and subsequent shelling of targets. Reducing the time of receipt and entry of incoming data allows for a faster rate of fire. Under normal conditions, howitzer firing rate is 2 shot per minute, maximum rate of fire - 5 shots.
The maximum length of the howitzer in a combat position is 10,7 meters, the minimum length during transportation is 9,5 meters. Barrel length - 39 calibers. The minimum number of calculations can be 5 people. For the howitzers М198, the number of calculations was 9 people. The M777 howitzer provides destruction of targets located at a distance of up to 24,7 km. With conventional ammunition and at a distance of up to 30 km. Using projectiles with rocket boosters. The maximum projectile speed is up to 2900 km / h, while, despite the low mass, the howitzer does not go out of balance at the moment of the shot. The A2 version of the howitzer uses updated software that allows the rifle to use the 155-mm M982 Escalibur guided artillery shells with a satellite guidance system in combat. The use of these projectiles allows the howitzer M777A2 to fire at targets within a distance of 40 km. In this case, the circular probable deviation is only 10 meters.
Currently, howitzer M777A2 is quite popular in the market of artillery weapons. Today, these howitzers are in service with Canada and Australia, the first to receive 37 artillery systems, the second 35. In addition, an order for 15 howitzers was made by the Thai armed forces, and India is considering the possibility of acquiring 145 lightweight howitzers M777A2. Representatives of the Indian armed forces announced their desire to acquire howitzers as early as January 2010.
M982 Excalibur
The M982 Excalibur is an 155-mm controlled active-projectile (APC) of increased flight range, intended for use by the barrel artillery. Developed by BAE Systems Bofors and Raytheon Missile Systems. In June, 2008 passed the test of an upgraded version of the projectile, the bottom of which was made of titanium. This made it possible to reduce the number of parts used and the cost of the projectile, as well as reduce its weight and increase the flight range. The bottom gas generator used in the projectile adds additional energy to the ammunition, allowing it to reach the firing range to 60 km. Duplex projectile control system - inertial and GPS. The projectile is made according to the aerodynamic scheme "duck", the warhead is a multi-purpose.
“Intellectual” ammunition has a firing range from 24 to 60 km, the circular probable deviation (CEP) is 10 meters. When used with the M777A2 howitzer, the firing range is 40 km. and is largely limited to a small barrel length in 39 calibers. Increasing the range of the projectile occurs through the use of folding aerodynamic consoles, which allow it to plan on the target from the top of the ballistic flight path. High accuracy of hit is achieved due to the existing GPS signal receiver. For comparison, the KVO of standard American 155-mm projectiles when firing at an average range is 200-300 meters.
The Excalibur project was developed jointly with the participation of Sweden, which invested in the development of 55,1 projectile millions of dollars, the Swedes hoped to receive the first ammunition in 2010 year. In 2008, the cost of producing one projectile was 85 000 dollars, in the manufacture of large quantities, the cost of the projectile is reduced to 50 000 dollars. The first experience of the combat use of these shells in Iraq occurred in the summer of 2007. He was so successful (92% of shells dropped within 4 meters from the target) that the US Army increased the order for the production of these shells from 18 to 150 units per month.
Currently there are 3 modifications of this ammunition.
M982 Excalibur Block I - projectile with unitary penetrating warhead, exists in 3 variants
- Block Ia-1 - accelerated development of a projectile with a reduced firing range, is in service with the 2007 year;
- Block Ia-2 - projectile with an increased range of fire;
- Block Ib - projectile with reduced cost and full implementation of tactical and technical requirements. Its development will be again put up for the competition.
M982 Excalibur Block II - A cassette version of the projectile containing 64 submunition type DPICM or 2 type SADARM.
M982 Excalibur Block III - the version of the projectile, carrying some kind of intelligent combat equipment, which is subject to increased requirements for "recognition, detection and tracking of targets in a complex urban environment.
Information sources:
http://www.arms-expo.ru/049057052048124055056050054.html
http://news.a42.ru/news/item/59403/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Information