XM1155-SC artillery projectile with increased firing range is being tested in the USA
Experienced projectile XM1155-SC SCALPEL after leaving the barrel
In the United States, the development of a promising family of long-range ERCA artillery pieces and ammunition for them continues. As part of the XM1155-SC project, BAE Systems is creating a new high-precision projectile with high flight speed and increased firing range. Recently, the first tests of such ammunition took place, and their results are in line with expectations, which allows us to continue work.
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On March 29, the development company BAE Systems announced the first shot with a promising projectile. The official press release provides basic information about the event and the types of weapons used. Also attached to it was a photograph of the projectile in the first moments of the flight, which was allowed for open publication.
It is reported that an experienced sub-caliber projectile for the XM1155-SC program was made according to the concept from BAE Systems, known as the Sub-Caliber Artillery Long-Range Projectile with Enhanced Lethality (SCALPEL). The tests were organized by the development company and the relevant structures of the ground forces. Shooting was performed at the White Sands range (Piece of New Mexico).
The first shot with a new projectile was fired from an experimental long-range XM907A2 gun with a caliber of 155 mm and a barrel length of 58 klb. Shooting was carried out at a fixed target, and the projectile successfully hit it. The range of the shot is not reported. At the same time, the developers note that it exceeded the maximum range obtained when firing other ammunition from the same gun.
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The development company highly appreciated the test. In practice, it was shown that the new projectile really has a long range and is capable of hitting a target with known coordinates with high accuracy. In the course of further development of the project, it is planned to further increase the firing range, as well as to create and implement a homing head with a target search function.
The design parameters of the next version of the SCALPEL product have not yet been specified. However, it is clear that in terms of key characteristics, in any case, it will surpass the current nomenclature of 155-mm shells of the US Army. However, the timing of the appearance of a full-fledged ammunition suitable for adoption is still unknown. The same applies to the completion of the development of systems of the ERCA family.
Hypervelocity family
Over the past few years, BAE Systems, with the participation of the US Army and other organizations, has been developing a promising line of Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP) artillery ammunition. The goal of the program is to create a range of shots in the main calibers of the US armed forces with enhanced combat qualities. The range in comparison with existing unguided and guided projectiles should increase significantly; high accuracy is required.
First of all, a variant of the HVP projectile for 155-mm field artillery was developed. All components of a promising artillery shot with enhanced performance were developed and tested. During testing of one of the versions of such ammunition, a range of 110 km was obtained with high accuracy. HVP developments formed the basis of the XM1155 project, which was successfully brought to testing.
Principles of using XM1155 projectiles
Then BAE Systems, on its own initiative, proposed the SCALPEL concept, which planned to increase the firing range. Now it has been fully implemented in the XM1155-SC (Sub-Caliber) project and brought to the test. In the near future, such a projectile will pass the necessary checks, and the army will determine its prospects.
Design features
BAE Systems has not yet shown a new version of the XM1155-SC projectile. Only one photo from the tests has been published, in which the lead device almost completely hides the projectile itself. Also, there is advertising graphics, the plausibility of which is questionable. The bulk of the technical details and characteristics also remain unknown. Nevertheless, it is possible to imagine in general terms what the developer company offers to the customer.
Apparently, the XM1155-SC projectile is similar in appearance and design to previous developments of the HVP series. Similar structural elements and layout solutions should be used. It is also possible to use a unified master device. At the same time, the internal equipment of the latest projectile and the propellant charge had to be developed specifically for it, taking into account the required characteristics.
The shot with the SCALPEL projectile is designed for 155 mm caliber guns. At the same time, the projectile itself is designated as sub-caliber and has a smaller diameter. The declared caliber may correspond to the span of the tail rudders. Like other sub-caliber projectiles, the XM1155-SC is equipped with a multi-element resettable master device.
Experienced self-propelled guns XM1299 with the XM907 gun on trials
The available images show a projectile with an ogival hull. Only its tail section has a cylindrical shape, on which X-shaped rudders are placed. The main part of the body is given under the warhead. The nose cone can be transparent to radio waves or laser radiation to ensure the operation of the seeker. Controls are placed in the tail.
Also at the bottom of the hull is a solid-fuel engine for extra acceleration. The active-reactive launch principle using a long-barreled gun should provide high, up to hypersonic, speed both when exiting the barrel and on the trajectory. Among other things, this will provide a reduction in flight time and increase the likelihood of successfully hitting the target.
In the original version for firing at fixed targets, the XM1155-SC must have a guidance system based on satellite and / or inertial navigation. In the future, they want to create a GOS with the ability to independently search for a target. It can be radar, infrared or passive laser.
Higher requirements for strength and stability are imposed on the guidance heads and controls for long-range projectiles. When fired from a long-barreled gun, incl. with the use of a gas generator / engine, projectile parts are subjected to increased overloads. It is necessary to protect them from damage and ensure their performance under all expected conditions.
SAU XM1299 (in the background) and upgraded M109
To use the new projectile, a minor modification of the fire control systems on compatible guns will be required. Their software must receive data and algorithms that will allow them to use XM1155-SC or other new ammunition and fire confidently over the entire range. In addition, in the course of the introduction of such ammunition in the troops, it will be necessary to improve the existing reconnaissance and strike circuits in accordance with the increase in the firing range.
Reason for optimism
The US Army and contractor companies regularly talk about their successes in the field of long-range artillery. Currently, a number of projects are being developed in this direction, and some of them are already entering the finish line. In the near future, the adoption of the first samples of the ERCA family is expected, after which the deployment of these systems in the troops will begin.
Other projects are still at earlier stages. Thus, the development of the long-range 155-mm projectile XM1155-SC is far from complete. BAE Systems and the customer have recently completed the design of such ammunition and are only now beginning to test it. It will take some time to carry out the necessary checks, and a large number of experienced projectiles will be needed.
Testing and fine-tuning the XM1155-SC SCALPEL product can take several years. The project uses some ready-made developments, which somewhat simplified its development, but a significant acceleration of work and overall success are not yet guaranteed.
However, the US Army and developers of new artillery systems are already making plans for the future. Their optimism is built on the recent successes of the ERCA program and related developments. Whether it will be preserved in the future, and whether it will be possible to fulfill the current plans, time will tell.
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