Limited: Vulcano guided missiles from Germany for Ukraine
Vulcano GLR guided projectile in flight
Germany has announced another package of military-technical assistance to Ukraine. For the first time, it includes the new Italian-German-developed Vulcano guided long-range artillery shells. At the same time, the disclosed plans show that such ammunition will have little effect on the firepower of the Ukrainian army, and the true goals of their delivery are far from the declared ones and are not related to aid issues.
Official announcement
On August 17, the German government published the current version of the list of deliveries of military-technical assistance to Ukraine. In addition, they announced the transfer of new products, incl. not previously included in aid packages. So, for the first time in the list weapons Vulcano guided missiles hit for shipment.
According to the plans of the German authorities, only 255 such ammunition will be handed over to the Kyiv regime. These will be projectiles for use with 155 mm caliber systems. Together with the shells, the devices necessary for their full use will be transferred.
It is reported that Vulcano shells for Ukraine will be provided by the German defense industry. The German government will buy them out of its own funds and organize delivery to Ukraine. The cost of such an order is not specified.
The exact timing of the transfer of new ammunition has not yet been named. In addition, some questions about the organization of supplies remain. Thus, it is not clear whether the announced 255 Vulcanos exist for Ukraine. Perhaps they have yet to be ordered and manufactured, and this will seriously shift the shipment time.
The Ukrainian side reacted to news their Germany with predictable enthusiasm. The announced number of shells and the lack of information on the delivery time did not bother her. However, a specific reaction to any foreign samples has long become familiar and does not raise questions.
155mm split-loader round and Vulcano GLR
Long-range and unified
The Vulcano artillery shell is a joint development of the Italian company Oto Melara (now Leonardo) and the German Diehl Defence. Work on this topic began in the middle of the 2008s, and already in XNUMX the first advertising materials and even ready-made components were presented. In the tenth years, the project reached the stage of testing the projectile in different configurations, along with several types of guns.
As part of the project, two versions of the projectile were simultaneously developed. The first, Vulcano BER (Ballistic Extended Range) was uncontrollable and had to show an increased firing range. The second option, Vulcano GLR (Guided Long Range), was also made long-range, but equipped with guidance tools. The shells of both versions are maximally unified.
Vulcano products were developed for use with artillery systems of various calibers. For this, several types of shots are offered with a common projectile and different leading devices of one caliber or another. Depending on the requirements of the weapon, the Vulcano is used in unitary or separate loading shots.
At the moment, manufacturers offer Vulcano shots in three calibers. For naval artillery of NATO standards, 76- and 127-mm unitary ammunition are intended. Land based systems must use the 155mm split-loader shot.
Serial production of Vulcano GLR shells began in 2021. The ground forces of Italy and Qatar became the first customers of such products. They are purchasing a 155mm shot version for use by towed and self-propelled artillery. At the end of this year, the Bundeswehr will begin its own tests of such shells. In the absence of serious difficulties, they are planned to be put into service in 2025.
Technical features
Both variants of the Vulcano projectile are as similar as possible to each other. These are sub-caliber ammunition in an elongated body with a pointed head fairing and six stabilizer feathers in the tail section. The guided version of the projectile also has X-shaped rudders placed behind the fairing.
Seekers: satellite / inertial (left) and laser (right)
The Vulcano has been designed for use with different types of implements in several models. They bring the caliber of the entire system to the required one, and also protect the rudders and stabilizer. A characteristic feature of such devices is the head part of the stepped shape. After exiting the barrel, the master device is reset, and the projectile begins its independent flight.
The controlled Vulcano GLR is equipped with a homing head with satellite and inertial navigation devices. A CVO of less than 5 m is declared. Such a seeker can be replaced by a semi-active laser head of the SAL (Semi-Active Laser) type, which directs the projectile to an illuminated target.
All variants of the projectile are equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with semi-finished submunitions. Undermining is carried out by a programmable fuse with a radio altimeter. Depending on the program, the ammunition can be detonated at a given height, on contact with the target / surface, or with a selected delay.
An "integration kit" has been developed to work with the electronics of the Vulcano GLR projectile. It includes a computer for fire control and calculations, as well as communications for obtaining target designation. In addition, there is a programmer for entering data into the GOS. In preparation for the shot, it is applied to the head of the projectile; information is transmitted inductively.
The reduced caliber and optimized aerodynamics made it possible to obtain high combat performance. Thus, the Vulcano in the unguided BER modification, when fired from a 155-mm gun with a 39-caliber barrel, flies 39 km. When using a barrel length of 52 klb, the range increases to 50 km. Managed by Vulcano GLR flies even further: long-barreled systems send it to 70 km.
Test batch
In general, Vulcano guided missiles are quite interesting and promising products. This project was based on curious ideas and technical solutions, and as a result, this made it possible to obtain a significant increase in technical, combat and operational characteristics. As a result, Vulcanos are already entering service with foreign countries and attracting new customers.
The device for entering data into the GOS and the use of the programmer
Ukraine may become the next operator of the Italian-German shells. At the same time, the announced supply of ammunition from Germany has characteristic features that cast doubt on the effectiveness of such “aid”. In addition, there are grounds for suspicion that Berlin has special plans.
The German government decided to allocate only 255 guided missiles for Ukraine. Obviously, this is not enough for their active use and any increase in the effectiveness of ground artillery. Such a number of shells is enough only for single attacks with practically no real results.
For comparison, the Kyiv regime has already received hundreds of thousands of "regular" 155-mm rounds - and they did not affect the course of the fighting. At the same time, a significant part of such aid was destroyed by the Russian army long before it hit the firing positions. The remaining ammunition is often used not for combat missions, but for shelling civilian targets.
The declared number of shells is not enough for a full-fledged combat use. At the same time, a batch of 255 shells will be enough for testing in a real combat situation. Apparently, the Bundeswehr wants to test promising shells not only at its training grounds, but also in a real armed conflict. Having collected data on the use of such ammunition, the German military will be able to draw certain conclusions and, possibly, reduce the program of their own field tests.
In addition, financial issues are of great importance. Vulcano is expensive, and the supply of only 255 units. will allow you to collect the required data without excessive costs. At the same time, the real potential of such a party and its benefits for the Kyiv regime fade into the background and are not a decisive factor.
Polygon country
In recent months, foreign partners have repeatedly handed over to the Kyiv regime certain weapons and equipment, including the most modern ones. However, the volumes of such deliveries were often small and limited to only a few or dozens of items. Naturally, such “help” did not affect the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian formations in any way.
At the same time, foreign countries got the opportunity to test their modern designs in an armed conflict against a developed and well-equipped enemy. The next sample to undergo such a test is now the Vulcano guided munition. What will be the results of such "field tests" is not yet clear. However, it is already clear that a real training ground was made from Ukraine, and urban development and civilian objects are considered as a target environment.
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