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.’
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