Netherlands orders Excalibur Ib
Raytheon is to supply the Excalibur Ib precision-guided projectile to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence as part of a previously agreed foreign military sale, the company announced on 9 September.
With this order, the Netherlands has become the second European customer for the Excalibur 1b, following Sweden.
The Netherlands armed forces will use the GPS-guided artillery rounds to arm its PzH 2000 howitzers, for which the US Army has already determined compatibility. Raytheon expects to begin deliveries late 2015.
Mark Hokeness, Excalibur programme director, Raytheon, said: ‘When fired from the Dutch PzH 2000 artillery system, Excalibur can fly up to 50km, score a direct hit and deliver lethal effects in all types of weather and battlefield conditions.
'The Netherlands joins a growing list of nations acquiring this highly sophisticated artillery munition, which uses GPS guidance to provide accurate, first-round effects capability at extended ranges.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Norway orders improved NASAMS technology as more countries sign up]()
Norway orders improved NASAMS technology as more countries sign up
The country’s air defence batteries will be equipped with new command posts, wheeled communication nodes and radios. The system itself is in service with more than 14 countries with 13 systems in Ukraine.
-
![Ukraine’s ground robot army still finding its feet]()
Ukraine’s ground robot army still finding its feet
Ukraine’s quest to replace soldiers with robots is hitting technical snags. Shephard spoke with industry leaders about difficulties in the field and what solutions are in the pipeline.
-
![DOK-ING presents CUAS MV-8 armed with Valhalla Mangart 25 turret]()
DOK-ING presents CUAS MV-8 armed with Valhalla Mangart 25 turret
The partnership between Croatia’s DOK-ING and Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets reflects an effort to combine ground robots and with improved capabilities and new roles and follows Rheinmetall presenting its Ox with Dispatch charging docks from Valinor.
-
![British Army vehicle programme may be shifting gears again]()
British Army vehicle programme may be shifting gears again
The UK’s effort to replace thousands of vehicles across a dozen base vehicle types has had a troubled history and statements from the UK’s Defence Minster Luke Pollard indicate change may be on the way.
-
![EOS improving Slinger CUAS role as industry pushes forward]()
EOS improving Slinger CUAS role as industry pushes forward
EOS Defence Systems officially launched its Slinger anti-drone system in 2023. The system features a remote weapon station, visual sensors and a Northrop Grumman 30mm cannon with specially designed ammunition, combined with EOS’s stabilisation and pointing technology.
