Raytheon Co., one of the world’s largest defense contractors, has released an incredible video of a recent test of its new Excalibur S cannon-launched, precision-guided munition.
Posted on the Raytheon Youtube channel, the video show Excalibur S precision-guided munition that scored direct hits on moving targets in a test for the U.S. Navy. This Excalibur variant uses GPS and laser guidance to engage a target on the move.
Testing validated the projectile’s ability to survive the shock and stress of a howitzer firing, then transition from GPS to laser guidance and hit a moving target.
Excalibur S uses the Excalibur Ib variant’s GPS technology and incorporates a semi-active laser seeker to engage mobile land and maritime targets at comparable ranges. Existing Ib projectiles can be upgraded with Excalibur S capabilities.
“Using artillery to engage moving targets gives soldiers more flexibility,” said Sam Deneke, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “Artillery is typically used to hit stationary objects, but Excalibur S expands the capability of artillery on the battlefield.”
Excalibur is a true precision weapon, impacting at a radial miss distance of less than two meters from the target. Widely used by U.S. and international artillery forces, Excalibur has been fired more than 1,400 times in combat.