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Nexter CAESAR 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled artillery system deployed and carrying out a fire mission Nexter area of probability (CEP) increases and adjustment of fire is required to bracket the target. A new family of 155mm ammunition is that recently developed by NAMMO with the HE-Extended Range (HE-ER) having a maximum range of 41km (25.4 miles) when fitted with a BB unit and fired from 155mm/52 calibre ordnance. This is reduced to a maximum range of 30km (18.6 miles) when fired from a 155mm/39 calibre ordnance.

It is available with an insensitive munition (IM) filling with more specialised rounds of the family including Illuminating ER/Infra-red Illuminating ER, Smoke ER and Target Practice ER. In addition the company is marketing a 155mm HE projectile with a HB which has a maximum range of up to 24km (nearly 15 miles).

Currently under development are ramjet powered 155mm artillery projectiles, but these will have a smaller payload and their control attachments make them easier to detect with artillery locating radars (ALR). In October 2021 NAMMO announced that it had

ADSB fAST pATROL BOATS SET TO TACkLE mARiTimE ThREATS

Nations across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean face the same maritime challenges; piracy, insurgency, people and drug smuggling, and incursion into valuable fishing resources. This is driving a boom in the need for patrol vessels with the key characteristics of range, speed and cost effective armament sufficient to counter the threats faced.

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), the GCC region’s leading shipbuilder that specialises in the design, new build, repair, maintenance, refit, and conversion of naval and commercial vessels, is tapping that demand with its newly launched series of fast patrol vessels designed to boost maritime security.

Having reinforced its in-house design capabilities, ADSB has developed a range of fast patrol boats that are entirely designed and built in the UAE. The 160 ITEP patrol boat, a 16 m inshore tactical and engagement platform, and 120 FIP interceptor, a 12 m fast inshore platform, provide key tactical capabilities to naval, security, and coast guard operations. The vessels are deployed in missions such as anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries protection, search and rescue (SAR), exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance, and coastal patrol.

ADSB’s 16 m vessel delivers performance and endurance for high-speed pursuit and interception, in addition to a wide range of patrol operations. Fitted with two diesel inboard engines, the patrol boat offers a range of over 350 nautical miles and speeds up to 50 knots. Armament ranges from a manually operated 12.7 mm machine gun to a 30 mm cannon installed on a remote weapon station mounted on the superstructure. Surfaceto-surface missile options are available and the rear deck can be configured for UAV operations.

Flexible to deploy, 160 ITEP fulfils the needs of naval forces, coast guards, and other security organisations. Having worked alongside coast guard forces to meet their requirements for the 16 m boat, ADSB has the utmost confidence that the vessel meets the highest standards of safety and performance to address the rise in maritime incursions. In the event of capsizing, the boat is also self-righting to ensure the safety of its crew.

Powered by two or three 400hp outboard engines according to customer requirement, 120 FIP can reach speeds exceeding 65 knots at full load, with manoeuvrability and stability. The 12 m vessel has a payload of up to two tonnes, allowing it to carry a remote-controlled weapon station or small missile systems if required.

ADSB’s fast patrol boats are highly customisable, designed to perform multiple missions and meet the specific operational requirements of the end user. Other designs and prototypes are currently in the pipeline to be completed this year and are certain to meet all maritime security, defence, and surveillance requirements to protect territorial waters.

Securing a country’s maritime borders is essential to national sovereignty and economic prosperity. As the Middle East region’s leading shipbuilding company for over 25 years, ADSB is a trusted partner in strengthening maritime security.

Northrop Grumman

Detailed drawing of the Northrop Grumman M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) that fits into the standard deep fuze well of a 155mm artillery projectile and showing the control surfaces at front fired over some types of terrain such as sand or soft soil which were hazardous to follow up forces as well as civilians and for these reason these are now banned by an increasing number of countries.

There are two top attack 155mm artillery projectiles deployed in the West; the German SMArt 155 and the French/ Swedish Bonus and both of these have top attack sub-munitions which will penetrate vulnerable upper surfaces of an AFV.

completed more than 300 rocket motor tests that had yielded important feedback in the development process.

The company added that current designed ramjet motors could be fired from 155mm 39/52 or 58 calibre artillery and that they had already demonstrated reliable ignition and in-house flight. For the US market, NAMMO is teamed with Boeing.

Greater accuracy can be obtained but fitting a precision guidance kit (PGK) with the most widely used one being the now Northrop Grumman M1156 PGK which has been produced in large numbers for the US Army and Marine Corps and an increasing number of export customers. According to Northrop Grumman, use of the M1156 PGK gives an 75 percent reduction in HE rounds for the same effect.

Other developments include Nexter’s Spacido while the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has adopted the Israel Aircraft Industries Top Gun for its 155mm artillery projectiles.

US seeks more range It was expected that the US Army would have fielded the advanced Crusader 155mm SP artillery system and its associated ammunition resupply vehicle. This was cancelled following the end of the cold war as was the Non-Line-OfSight Cannon (NLOS-C) which was part of the ambitious Future Combat System (FCS).

The US Army continues to upgrade its M109 series of SP howitzer to the latest M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) but these currently still retain their 155mm/39 cal ordnance. In the not-todistant future ordnance will be replaced by the 155mm/58 calibre Extended Range Artillery Cannon (ERAC) which is a key part of the US Army’s Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) project.

This 155mm/58 calibre ordnance will be back-fitted to the latest M109 which will also feature an automated AHS to enable a higher rate of fire to be achieved as well as firing a new family of 155mm ammunition.

Rheinmetall provides the 155mm/52 calibre ordnance for the PzH 2000 SP artillery systems but is now working on a 155mm/60 calibre ordnance with the first application being for their 10x10 SP artillery system revealed in late 2021.

Engaging armoured targets For many western armies 155mm artillery projectiles containing bomblets were the standard means to try and neutralise massed attacks by armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) and other platforms. The most widely used were the US 155mm M483A1 which carried 64 M42 and 24 M46 dual purpose top attack grenades and when fired from a 155mm/39 calibre system had a maximum range of 17.5km (10.8 miles).

The main drawback of these submunitions was the high dud rate when Precision artillery projectiles The United States deployed the 155mm M712 Copperhead Cannon Launched Guided Projectile (CLGP) in Gulf War One but have now run out of shelf life. Russia is currently marketing 155mm, 152mm and 122mm Laser Guided Projectiles (LGP) as is China.

The main disadvantage of these LGP is that the designator has to have line-ofsight to the target which in some terrain and weather conditions can be difficult. Airborne assets can also be used to designate targets and some ground based assets can designate the target with the actual LGP being launched by another platform.

The Raytheon Excalibur 155mm M982 is the most widely used 155mm PGM in the West, was used extensively use in Afghanistan and Iraq and has been continuously developed with a recent model being laser guided. These PGM are not cheap and would only be used to engage high value targets.

In November 2021 the US Army activated its 56th Artillery Command in

Christopher F Foss

NAMMO are investing on 155 mm ammunition including one with a Ramjet propulsion system (left) and more streamlined 155 mm extended range projectiles (right)