Spain to purchase upgraded US Excalibur-S 155mm precision-guided shell.

According to the Tierra Digital nº 95 from December 2023, a publication of the Spanish Army, Spain is set to acquire the Excalibur-S 155mm precision-guided artillery shell, an upgraded variant of the M982 Excalibur munition. This advanced projectile features semi-active laser terminal guidance, offering the capability to engage moving land and maritime targets with a missing radius of under two meters.
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Live testing demonstration of the Excalibur-S 155mm artillery shell on April 25, 2019. (Picture source: RTX)

This development follows live-fire tests of the M982 Excalibur 155mm precision-guided artillery shells conducted on October 2023, as reported by Army Recognition. The tests involved the SIAC 155/52 towed howitzer and the M109 A5 155mm self-propelled howitzer, concluding an extensive training program.

The training program saw military personnel from the Artillery Support Command (MACA) receiving specialized training in the United States on the Excalibur system, as reported on October 25, 2023. The primary aim of these tests and training was to evaluate the compatibility of Excalibur munitions with Spanish artillery equipment, marking progress in the Spanish Army's efforts to modernize its artillery capabilities.

Over the past two years, the Spanish Army has procured 250 Excalibur 155mm ammunition rounds, including the necessary auxiliary equipment for calculating and transmitting firing data. This equipment plays a crucial role in achieving precision when employing these munitions. Additionally, the Spanish Army highlights the importance of employing target acquisition systems alongside Excalibur munitions to maintain accuracy for guided projectiles and reduce the risk of collateral damage.

The Excalibur ammunition system itself is designed to neutralize targets up to 50 kilometers away with a probable error circle of less than 4 meters. It integrates a control system encompassing firing data calculation, fuze transmission, programming systems, and a navigation system with GPS control and guidance. The system also incorporates a Base Bleed module to extend its range and a Cannard-type guidance system, allowing the projectile to modify its trajectory aerodynamically.

The Excalibur ammunition operates in two flight phases. The first phase follows a ballistic trajectory as the projectile leaves the tube, ensuring that all systems function correctly and receive a GPS signal. The second phase involves aerodynamic navigation towards the target, allowing for precise impact with the predetermined orientation and angle of attack. The projectile arms itself in the final two seconds of its trajectory to prevent detonation if it falls 30 meters away from the designated area.

For the Spanish Army, the Excalibur ammunition has demonstrated its effectiveness, with the SIAC achieving targets up to 50 kilometers away and the M109 reaching 40 kilometers, with a lethal radius of action of approximately 30 meters.

This achievement has positioned the Field Artillery Command as a reference unit within the Spanish Army for the Excalibur system, responsible for providing fire support to various brigades and divisions within the Spanish Army. As the army looks ahead to the future, it aims to integrate this new capability into the Spanish Artillery with an eye on accurately targeting moving targets, a capability that could prove crucial for coastal artillery.

The next step in this evolution is the acquisition of the Excalibur-S variant, which incorporates semi-active laser guidance. This innovation is expected to further enhance the Excalibur system's capabilities, particularly in engaging moving land and maritime targets with precision.

The M982 Excalibur is a precision-guided munition developed by Raytheon and BAE Systems Bofors, designed to enhance artillery capabilities. It has a range of approximately 40 to 55 kilometers and a circular error probability of about five meters. The Excalibur features a multifunctional fuse that allows precise programming for timing, proximity, or delay, along with foldable sliding fins contributing to its extended range and arched trajectory. Its key feature is its GPS-guided system, enabling the projectile to adjust its trajectory during flight, ensuring precise targeting, even in complex scenarios or against concealed objectives. This munition extends the effective range of various artillery systems and offers accuracy surpassing conventional munitions, consistently hitting targets within a radius of less than two meters.

The Excalibur-S represents the latest variant in Raytheon's Excalibur line of smart projectiles. It combines the GPS technology of the Excalibur 1B with a semi-active laser seeker, allowing it to track and home in on moving land and maritime targets with a high degree of precision, achieving a miss radius of less than two meters. The Excalibur-S starts by using GPS for its initial target fix and then transitions to its laser sensor to track an external targeting beam. This advanced munition offers enhanced accuracy and range, while its ability to engage moving targets adds flexibility to artillery operations. It can also be used to upgrade earlier versions of the Excalibur, enhancing compatibility across various artillery systems and expanding its utility on the battlefield.