Defence

BAE Systems successfully tests guided projectile

Posted 30 March 2023

In partnership with the US Army, BAE Systems successfully fired a Sub-Caliber Artillery Long-Range Projectile with Enhanced Lethality, our concept for the US Army’s XM1155 sub-caliber programme, from a 155 mm XM907E2 58 calibre cannon and impacted a fixed target beyond ranges previously demonstrated by other precision guided projectiles fired from the same type of cannon.

Above: A Sub-Caliber Artillery Long-Range Projectile with Enhanced Lethality fires from a 155 mm XM907E2 58 calibre cannon.
Courtesy US Army

The test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, used a US Army-designed sabot package and confirmed the projectile’s compatibility with the 155 mm Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) Howitzer Test Bed and propelling charges.

“This successful test confirms our Sub-Caliber Artillery Long-Range Projectile with Enhanced Lethality can defeat long-range targets and advance to follow-on testing out to double the range of existing guided projectile and with sensors to find fixed and moving targets of interest,” said Brent Butcher, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. “We are confident that the projectile is on track to provide the Army the best munitions solution for cannon artillery with a leap ahead capability that will bring a highly lethal, maneuverable projectile to soldiers on the battlefield.”

BAE Systems' concept for the US Army’s XM1155-SC programme is an advanced, cannon-launched projectile under development for the defeat of fixed and moving targets in contested environments at more than double the range of existing cannon launched precision guided munitions (PGM). The latest PGM in the Hypervelocity Projectile family of munitions, our concept was developed to penetrate and destroy adversary defences through increased range, advanced guidance, lethality, and survivability. The projectile addresses the Army’s modernisation goals for a long-range precision fires munitions solution.

For the past several years, BAE Systems has invested in the innovation, development and testing of advanced long-range precision fires solutions and has completed more than 100 PGM tests. In early 2022, the predecessor to its XM1155-SC concept, BAE Systems’ Extended Range Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP-ER) successfully destroyed a target at a range of more than 110 kilometres.

BAE Systems is currently under contract with the US Army to develop and test the projectile as part of the Army’s XM1155 Extended Range Artillery Projectile programme.