Excalibur Ib rounds compatible with howitzer
Raytheon’s Excalibur Ib precision guided artillery round has been declared by the US Army’s Excalibur Programme Office to be fully compatible with the M198 howitzer when used with the Modular Artillery Charge System, the company announced on 21 August.
With this compatibility determined, military forces can use the 155mm Excalibur Ib precision munition when firing the M198 howitzer. The new precision round extends the range of the howitzer to 31 miles and provides an all-weather strike within 6.5ft of the target.
Mark Hokeness, programme director, Raytheon Excalibur, said: ‘Many of our international partners have an urgent need to address vital security interests, and Excalibur lb meets that need. This eliminates the time and cost of further compatibility testing in the M198 howitzer.’
The Excalibur uses GPS precision guidance technology and reduces the time, cost and logistical burden of using artillery munitions, according to Raytheon. The company is developing a laser-guided version and a sea-based, five-inch variant of the projectile.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Companies downselected for British Army vehicle programme]()
Companies downselected for British Army vehicle programme
It is believed that three companies did not make the downselect but a dark horse in Spain’s Iturri is believed to have got through.
-
![Air defence offerings multiply in anticipation of emerging requirements]()
Air defence offerings multiply in anticipation of emerging requirements
Air defence and counter-drone weapons continue to be developed, tested and demonstrated in anticipation of growing demand, with most solutions designed to be platform-agnostic and readily integrated onto suitable platforms.
-
![September land forces roundup: DVD 2026 puts British Army requirements in the spotlight]()
September land forces roundup: DVD 2026 puts British Army requirements in the spotlight
The US Army began its search for a 155mm tracked mobile tactical cannon in an effort that Shephard forecasts could be worth billions of dollars. Meanwhile, the UK DVD exhibition saw companies showcase their offerings for the British Army’s mobility and air defence requirements.
-
![FNSS advances Indonesian Kaplan APC programme as local production expands]()
FNSS advances Indonesian Kaplan APC programme as local production expands
FNSS and PT Pindad are progressing the Indonesian tracked armoured personnel carrier programme as local production gets under way.
