US Army awards Raytheon $36m for Excalibur Ib
The US Army awarded Raytheon Company a $36 million contract for the final phase of the Excalibur Ib development programme. This phase concludes with warfighter tests and will qualify Excalibur Ib for fielding.
The Excalibur Ib is a long-range, precision-guided artillery projectile based on Raytheon's combat-proven Excalibur Ia. Excalibur Ib features a non-spinning fixed base, uses fewer parts and requires simpler manufacturing than Excalibur Ia resulting in increased reliability and a significantly reduced cost.
"Raytheon has conducted more than 50 live-fire tests since August 2010, and the results from these tests have enabled our talented engineers to further refine the Excalibur Ib design," said Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Raytheon's Land Combat product line. "By consistently demonstrating an unprecedented precision capability, we have high confidence in our Excalibur Ib design as the objective solution."
Excalibur Ib was designed to grow with the needs of the warfighter and incorporates a reprogrammeming port that makes it possible for the warfighter to modify the performance of the round in response to changing threats and evolving tactics.
Excalibur is the world's only deployed extended-range GPS-guided artillery round, and has been fired more than 300 times in theater since its early fielding in 2007. Both the US Army and Marine Corps have increased their use of this life-saving weapon over the past year.
Source: Raytheon
More from Land Warfare
-
Mack Defense receives new contract as push to refresh trucks continues
Mack Defense’s M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) builds on a commercial vehicle but comes off a dedicated production line. The deal follows previous orders, including orders for Oshkosh’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, along with other logistics and forward-deployed trucks worldwide.
-
Milrem THeMIS robot tests weapon firing to beyond one kilometre
The Milrem Robotics Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) has seen extensive service in Ukraine with an additional six ordered for Ukraine in May.
-
JLTV A2 cleared for first export as AM General awaits US Army plans
The AM General’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 is in low-rate initial production (LRIP) as testing of first vehicles continues. Canada is set to become the first export customer and the likely order will mark an important step for the company as it awaits the outcome of the US Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) which has argued for cuts to JLTV.