DefenceTalkThe Canadian Royal Army has enlisted the help of Picatinny engineers to evaluate the life-span of their World War II-era C3 Howitzer. “We are looking for engineering data that, unfortunately, we’re missing right now,” said Canadian Army Maj. David Lebel, Equipment Management team leader for Field Artillery Systems. The C3 Howitzer is a 1950’s technology […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-canada-partner-to-upgrade-canadian-howitzer-50177/

DefenceTalkIt may be small, but a 60mm mortar round has a blast radius of over 20 meters and can be fired at enemies three and a half kilometers away. The M224 60mm mortar system has become a staple of American light infantry operations, and now it’s becoming one for the Afghan National Army. Members of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/10th-mountain-division-soldiers-teach-afghan-60mm-mortar-system-50097/

DefenceTalkAfter months of hard training and expectation, the rubber finally hit the road in Turkey for the 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. With a formal transfer of authority in the southeastern Turkey city of Gaziantep, Dec. 13, the formidable responsibilities of safeguarding civilians from airborne threats […]https://www.defencetalk.com/5-7-air-defense-artillery-soldiers-assume-responsibilities-in-turkey-49985/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Army and Raytheon have fired 10 precision-guided Excalibur projectiles during the final phase of compatibility testing at Yuma Proving Ground. This live-fire demonstration, funded by the U.S., Germany and supported by Raytheon-funded initial testing, marked the completion of a multi-phase assessment that verified Excalibur’s compatibility and performance with the PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer. During […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raytheon-precision-testing-of-self-propelled-howitzer-49905/

DefenceTalkThe Fires Center of Excellence Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate here, is celebrating a major victory after the Paladin Integrated Management program received Milestone C approval within the Defense Acquisition System. This Materiel Development Decision moves the project from the engineering design phase of the acquisitions process into the manufacturing and production phase. “This is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/paladin-hybridizes-for-future-fleet-49672/

DefenceTalkBAE Systems received a contract worth up to $688 million from the U.S. Army to begin Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program. The PIM is a significant upgrade of the M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer, restoring space, weight, and power-cooling, while providing growth potential for emerging technologies. “The award is a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bae-systems-to-begin-production-of-paladin-integrated-management-49537/

DefenceTalkSoldiers from 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery, held a 10-day exercise, Sept. 22 through Oct. 1, with the host nation’s 97th Heavy Artillery Regiment, in the United Arab Emirates. The live-fire exercise tested joint capabilities for the first time between the two units that operate the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/field-artillery-completes-joint-exercise-in-united-arab-emirates-49431/

DefenceTalkBAE Systems delivered the first four ARCHER artillery systems to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, during a handover ceremony at the company’s Karlskoga, Sweden facility Sept. 23. BAE Systems employees and representatives from FMV and the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation, FLO, attended the ceremony where FMV’s Director General Lena Erixon received the four systems […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-archer-systems-delivered-in-sweden-49224/

DefenceTalkOn July 12, 2013, at Alkanptan firing range in South Africa, a week of extensive test firings was completed demonstrating the precision and terminal accuracy of the Vulcano Guided Ammunition with a direct hit against a target at a range of 33 km. The ammunition was fired by a Self-Propelled Howitzer PzH 2000. The Vulcano […]https://www.defencetalk.com/155-mm-vulcano-sal-guided-ammunition-scores-direct-hit-at-33-km-range-48551/

DefenceTalkAir-ground fire coordination-also known as Close Air Support or CAS-is a dangerous and difficult business. Pilots and dismounted ground agents must ensure they hit only the intended target using just voice directions and, if they’re lucky, a common paper map. It can often take up to an hour to confer, get in position and strike-time […]https://www.defencetalk.com/faster-more-precise-airstrikes-within-reach-48151/