Excalibur Army unveils 155 mm TMG EVA 8x8 self-propelled howitzer.

The Czech company Excalbibur Army has unveiled its new self-propelled autonomous artillery system with automatic loading of ammunition providing an effective fire by means of both direct and indirect aiming. Its design is based on the 155 mm/52 cal. SpGH Zuzana 2, while overtaking maximum assemblies and design solutions verified within the course of demanding testing and tender trials performed worldwide.

Excalibur Army's 155 mm TMG EVA 8x8 self-propelled howitzer (Picture source: Excalibur Army)

The Czech company Excalbibur Army has unveiled its new self-propelled autonomous artillery system with automatic loading of ammunition providing an effective fire by means of both direct and indirect aiming. Its design is based on the 155 mm/52 cal. SpGH Zuzana 2, while overtaking maximum assemblies and design solutions verified within the course of demanding testing and tender trials performed worldwide.

The 155 mm TMG EVA is equipped with a 52-caliber barrel designed in accordance with the Joint Memorandum of Understanding concerning “Standardization of Elements of 155 mm Howitzers and Ammunitions”. The weapon is equipped with the inertial navigation system and muzzle velocity radar. On-board FCS enables to operate with digital maps. For direct fire the weapon is equipped with aiming system consisting of TV camera, thermal image camera and laser range-finder.

Electronic equipment, diagnostics and automation of operations during loading and firing rank this weapon among the most advanced weapon system on the market.

Any NATO standard 155 mm ammunition may be used for firing. 12 projectiles and 12 powder charges ready to fire are stored in the ammunition conveyers. Beds in the conveyers are universal for all the projectiles and powder charges used in the service. Eventually, there might be stored any new types of projectiles of the length up to 1 meter in the projectile conveyer and loaded by means of automatic loading system. Another 12 projectiles and 12 powder charges are stored in hermetically sealed ammunition tubes on the chassis.

The rate of fire varies: in automatic mode, 5 shells in the 1st minute, 13 shells in 3 minutes; in manual mode, 2 shells per minute. The minimum distance to target is 5 km; the maximum one is 41+ km when using ERFB-BB shells. The vehicle carries 24 shells, among which 12 are ready to be fired.

The vehicle engine power supplies hydraulic and electric systems of both the weapon superstructure and the chassis which is the Tatra T815-7 8x8. The engine is the Tatra T3C-928.90 Euro3, air-cooled, turbocharged, developing 300 kW/1,800 rpm, or 2,100 Nm/1,000 rpm. The transmission is a manual shift TATRA 10TS210 (optionally Norgren semi-automatic electro-pneumatic gear shifting). The vehicle can reach 85 km/h, with a cruising range of 600km.

The vehicle is air-transportable by Airbus A-400M, McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III, and Ilyushin Il-76 Candid, for instance.