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Defense Industry News - Denel (South Africa)
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| Tuesday,
August 9, 2011, 05:39 PM |
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| The
Denel Stryker LAV III 105 mm howitzer can directly fire three shells through
the same hole. |
Denel
Land Systems has developed an artillery piece that can directly fire three
shells through the same hole – at a distance of one kilometre. The
accuracy of this locally developed piece of artillery is equally impressive.
This system fire at a range of 30km and deliver 50% of its projectiles
within the size of a soccer field.
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LAV-III Stryker 105 mm wheeled self-propelled artillery howitzer
at AAD 2010 defence exhibition |
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This remarkable degree of
accuracy was achieved when the latest version of DLS’s 105mm Stryker
was recently tested at the Alkantpan testing range in the Northern Cape.
The Stryker LAV III LSPH (Light Self-propelled Howitzer) differs from
previous versions in that it can now be serviced by a crew rather than
being remotely fired.
Stephan Burger the CEO of Denel Land Systems (DLS) says the firing tests
were witnessed by members of the SA Defence community. The tests underline
the world-class characteristics of the gun and the quality of the engineering
team responsible for its development, says Burger.
The 105-mm Stryker is a joint project between DLS, General Dynamic Systems
and Rheinmetall Denel Munitions – another subsidiary of Denel,
South Africa’s largest manufacturer of defence products.
Research and Development work on the system started in the 1990’s
when a Denel/Armscor project team was set the task to produce 155mm,
39 calibre Artillery range, accuracy and lethality from a 105mm system.
The end product was an artillery piece with the weight of a 105mm howitzer,
but the range and terminal performance of a 155mm System -- with better
precision.
The latest version tested at Alkantpan has a crew of three - a driver,
commander/gunner and loader. Because the system fires off its wheels
it can be quickly deployed in action. The system weighs 18,200 kg with
36 rounds on board and is air-transportable with a C130 aircraft. Burger
says the range of the artillery is between 6 and 30 kilometres –
depending on the configuration of the projectile and propellant charge.
Its accuracy is exceptional. During the firings error margins of less
than 0,3% of range was consistently achieved at maximum range. This
kind of performance was made possible through the system engineering
approach that was followed in developing the gun, the charges and the
projectiles as an integrated system.
Burger says the system has generated significant international interest
since it was first unveiled at the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition
in 2000. The turreted version of the 105mm System will also be able
to fire off the Patria AMV vehicle, currently the platform for the South
African Badger family of Infantry Combat Vehicles.
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