The U.S. Army Contracting Command has awarded Raytheon Corp. a contract for the production of the M982A1 155mm Excalibur Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided, extended range artillery projectiles.

On Apr. 30, the U.S. Army posted a notice on the U.S. government’s main contracting website, of awarded a sole source contract to Raytheon for the 155mm Excalibur projectiles.

The Excalibur M982A1 is a 155 mm, GPS-guided, extended range artillery projectile in use as the Army’s next-generation cannon artillery precision munition. It provides improved fire support to the maneuver force commander, increases lethality and reduces collateral damage.

The target, platform location and GPS-specific data are entered into the projectile’s mission computer through an Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter.

The Excalibur projectile uses a jam-resistant internal GPS receiver to update the inertial navigation system, providing precision in-flight guidance and dramatically improving accuracy to less than two meters miss distance regardless of range. The Excalibur projectile has three fuze options (point-detonation, point-detonation delay and height-of-burst) and is employable in all weather conditions and terrains.

The Excalibur’s capabilities allow for first-round effects-on-target while simultaneously minimizing collateral damage and the number of rounds required to engage targets.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Maximum range from U.S. 39 caliber howitzers with Zone 5 Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS): 39.3 km
• Minimum range from U.S. 39 caliber howitzers with Zone 3 MACS: 8.7 km
• Precision achieved: less than 2 meters miss distance
• Fuze modes: point-detonation, point-detonation-delay and height-of-burst

The Excalibur projectile enables the Soldier to service a precisely located target with first-round effects, denying the enemy the ability to take protective measures or flee the area. Excalibur’s achieved and relatively limited damage radius allows for target engagement within close proximity.