EXCALIBUR

What is Excalibur? Precision-guided, extended range 155mm cannon projectile Compatible with M777A2 & Paladin howitzers Inductive fuze-setting with multiple fuze modes Fully autonomous, fire & forget, day or night weapon GPS-Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance with IMU back up 4-axis Canard Actuation System for enhanced maneuverability Finned base for aerodynamic stability Optimized for urban terrain Near-vertical terminal angle of attack

What Excalibur Is Not A replacement for Copperhead A “Tank Killer” Pinpoint Accurate (Projectile is not Laser Guided) The “Silver Bullet” for Indirect Fire Weapons It is on YOU the FDO or FSO to explain the capabilities and limitations to the maneuver commander

Characteristics 39 inches long, 104.1 lbs (No [] WT, Precisely Machined) Unitary Block 1a-1 is the Early Fielding version (XM982) Does not have Base Bleed Block 1a-2 & 1b will have base bleed (ID M982) 59 lb, naturally fragmenting steel warhead Explosive Effectiveness (M107) Integrated Fuze with 3 Fuze setting: PD Delay – currently 4 inches, will improve up to 8 inches of reinforced concrete at block 1b Proximity HOB (4 meters +/- 1 meter) No manual fuze setting; must be set with an Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter (EPIAFS)

Characteristics Extended Range Always fired as a high angle mission 8 km min range (XM982), Due to High Angle Fire 24 km Max range (XM982) Always fired as a high angle mission Provides Max time to acquire GPS, maneuver to target, and perform a nose down maneuver Fired Using MACS Charges 3H and 4H only (Future Blocks 5H) 10m CEP at all ranges

Concept Of Operations

Area Echo Considerations Base hood cover separates when projectile exits tube Base cover lands 200-350m in front of gun depending on wind conditions (All Iraq shots less than 300m) Concern for friendly, weighs approx 3 lbs Commanders must clear Danger Area Echo Discussed in Para 1-21 of Release Notes

Firing Considerations Must be set using EPIAFS The projectile must be fired within 48H after it is initialized. Future Blocks will be extended to 15 Days. pg234([] TTP’s) Maximum number of projectile sets is 20 sets when temperature is above 0°F ([] TTP’s) 10 Sets when temperature is below 0°F ([] TTP’s) Must set projectile twice when below 0°F 7 Minute data hold (can be reset if not loaded/Chambered) Based on limited satellite availability Round “zeroes” after 7 minutes Changes Gun Crew Drill

Firing Procedures CFF is transmitted from sensor FDC will process the mission as AMC AFATDS will automatically transmit mission as DNL to the DFCS Crew will lay on Deflection and set Load Elevation, then select “Ready-NL”(New Step in Crew Drill) Ready will be transmitted to Observer with AMC Response Time added to the TOF

Firing Procedures (Cont.) Observer Transmits “Fire” AFATDS will change mission from DNL to AMC on gun Gun Crew will set and load round, elevate to QE, then select “Ready” AFATDS will automatically convert mission from AMC to “Fire” Sections must train to determine an accurate AMC Response Time

Ballistic Impact Points A point on the ground where the round will impact if it remains ballistic (Fails Self Test or Does Not Acquire An Adequate GPS Signal) FECC or FSCC Will clear an area where the projectile can impact (FFA) AFATDS creates the BIP with a radius of 500m AFATDS will compute the BIP along gun-target line Can be recomputed to a user defined location BIP currently limited to 300 mils left or right of gun target line, Total fan of 600 mils Every opportunity to rehearse planned targets should be taken, run missions with AFATDS after MET updates, database changes, etc FECC or FSCC should develop a 6400 mil BIP plan and work with FDO to ensure usability

BIP Template Chg 4H Max Range @ 1031 mils @ 1244 mils Chg 3H Max Range Gun Chg 4H Max Range @ 1031 mils @ 1244 mils Chg 4H Min Range Chg 3H Min Range Chg 3H Max Range Max Range Chg 4H @ 1031 mils for Forced Ballistic Impact Point Ballistic Impact Area Min Range Chg 3H @ 1244 mils Max Range Chg 3H @ 1031 mils Min Range Chg 4H @ 1244 mils Right and Left Boundaries are 300 mils from Azimuth of Fire * Template generated using the following Standard Conditions: - MET Base Ref XM982 Projectile Weight = 104.1 lbs (47.219 Kg) Propellant Temp 70 deg F (21.1 C) Muzzle Velocities (M232 Chg 3H 540 m/s; M232 4H 670 m/s) and Target altitude at Zero meters with respect to Mean Sea Level New Tube ANY CHANGE TO THE ABOVE CONDITIONS WILL VARY ACHIEVABLE RANGES. DURING PLANNING, USE CURRENT AND TEST FOR SOLUTIONS WITH DRY FIRE MISSIONS XM982 Excalibur Maneuver Footprint Template For M232 Chg 3H and 4H 29 Sep 2006 Generated from AFATDS version 6.4.01 NABK version 6US1.3 Using Standard Conditions*

AFATDS Considerations Inaccuracies in databases can cause the round to precisely miss the target Platoons should share databases including the Excalibur capable guns Ensure Guns have good time synchronization Manage MACS (Excalibur can only be fired using MACS M232/M232A1) Guns must have accurate location Guns must be PGM capable Set AMC Response in Preferences (45 Sec is default)

Observer Requirements TLE <10M for targets requiring a direct hit (Point Targets) TLE <20 M for Materiel Targets (Area Targets) PSS-SOF Provides TLE of 10M or Less (Preferred Platform) Other Platforms Can be utilized (Para 3-22, Table 3-1 in Release Notes)

PGK

What is PGK? A GPS guided fuze for 155mm HE artillery projectiles Fuze – provides safety and standard fuzing modes (Proximity and PD) Guidance System – provides GPS guidance which improves the accuracy of conventional artillery projectiles already in the inventory (<50m CEP vs. >175m CEP) – Area Precision Maintains >90% of range capability of conventional projectiles

What PGK Is Not An excuse for sloppy Gunnery procedures (must maintain the 5 requirements for accurate predicted fire) Excalibur (Greater CEP) Laser Guided Also not a “Silver Bullet” for Indirect Fire

Operational Benefits Transforms existing artillery inventory into affordable area precision weapons Combines GPS guidance and fuzing into one device Improves combat effectiveness Reduces collateral damage Reduces logistics footprint 50M CEP at all ranges

CEP Comparison - Guided vs. Unguided PGK Accuracy (T) 50m CEP Excalibur Accuracy 10m CEP M109A6 – Paladin – 27km, 155mm (HE) M549A1 with 1 mil Aiming Error at Low Angle

Overview Is an area precision munition Does not change the HE/PD or HE/VT Target Sets Will reduce the number of rounds required to have effects on target Optimal observer TLE is < 50 meters In urban environments, PGK will not significantly reduce collateral damage

FDC Procedures FDC fire mission procedures for PGK are similar to Excalibur procedures due to the 7 minute data hold time PGK will be used with following methods of engagement: When Ready, At My Command (AMC), & Time On Target (TOT) FDCs will add the AFATDS AMC Weapon Response Time to the Time of Flight for AMC missions TOT missions should not be sent to the howitzer earlier than 5 minutes prior to the time to fire

Gun Procedures PDFCS / DFCS fire mission sequence and crew drill for PGK missions similar to Excalibur Crew must keep in mind the 7 minute data hold time after the PGK is set Do not set the PGK or remove the protective cover until ready to ram Do not pre-set PGKs during a multi round mission Supplemental Charge must be removed prior to mating the PGK to the projectile (Long Intrusion Fuze) As with any mated projectile, do not handle the round by the PGK