Artillery shells. Artillery ammunition Artillery ammunition

Artillery ammunition is an integral part of artillery systems, designed to destroy manpower and equipment, destroy structures (fortifications) and perform special tasks (lighting, smoke, delivery of propaganda material, etc.). These include artillery rounds, mortar rounds, and ground-based MLRS rockets. According to the nature of the equipment, artillery ammunition with conventional explosives, chemical and biological (bacteriological) are distinguished. By purpose: main (for damage and destruction), special (for lighting, smoke, radio interference, etc.) and auxiliary (for personnel training, testing, etc.).

Artillery shot- ammunition for firing from an artillery gun. It was a set of elements for one shot: a projectile with a fuse, a propellant charge in a case or cap, a means of igniting the charge and auxiliary elements (phlegmatizers, decouplers, flame arresters, wads, etc.).

According to their intended purpose, artillery rounds are divided into combat (for combat shooting; they make up the ammunition loads of guns), blank (for sound imitation; instead of a projectile, a wad or a reinforced cap; a special charge), practical (for training gun crews to fire; a projectile of inert ammunition; the fuse is blank) , educational (for studying the device and teaching techniques for handling ammunition, loading and shooting; elements of a shot - inert equipment or mock-ups) and system testing (for testing artillery guns).

An artillery shot is said to be complete when it has all the elements but not assembled, and ready when it is assembled. A ready-made artillery shot can be fully or incompletely equipped (with a screwed-in or unscrewed fuse, respectively).

According to the loading method, they are distinguished:

Artillery shot cap loading– the projectile, the propellant charge in the charging case (a shell made of dense fabric to accommodate the propellant charges of artillery and mortar rounds) and the ignition means are not connected to each other; used in large-caliber guns, loaded in three stages (by element). The use of caps became widespread from the first half of the 17th century, which significantly reduced the time required for loading. Before this, gunpowder was poured into the gun barrel by hand.

Artillery shot separate-case loading– the cartridge case with the projectile and the igniter are not connected to the projectile; used mainly in medium-caliber guns, loaded in two steps. Created in 1870–1871 by the Frenchman Reffi.

Artillery shot unitary loading– the projectile, propellant charge and means of ignition are combined into one whole; used in all automatic and semi-automatic guns, as well as in some non-automatic guns of various types of artillery, loaded in one step. A unitary caliber artillery shot is sometimes called an artillery cartridge.

One of the main components of an artillery shot was projectile- a means of destroying enemy personnel, materiel and fortifications, fired from an artillery gun. Most types of projectiles were an axisymmetric metal body with a flat bottom, on which powder gases formed during the combustion of the propellant charge were pressed. This body can be solid or hollow, streamlined or arrow-shaped, and carry a payload or not. All these factors, together with the internal structure, determined the purpose of the projectile. The classification of shells was carried out according to the following criteria. According to their intended purpose, the projectiles were divided into:

- armor-piercing shells designed to combat enemy armored vehicles. According to their design, they were divided into caliber, sub-caliber with a permanent or detachable tray, and swept-finned projectiles.

— concrete-piercing shells designed to destroy reinforced concrete long-term fortifications.

- high-explosive shells designed to destroy field and long-term fortifications, wire fences, and buildings.

— cumulative projectiles designed to destroy armored vehicles and garrisons of long-term fortifications by creating a narrowly directed stream of explosion products with high penetrating ability.

- fragmentation shells designed to destroy enemy personnel with fragments formed when the shell explodes. The rupture occurs upon impact with an obstacle or remotely in the air.

— buckshot — ammunition designed to destroy openly located enemy personnel in self-defense of the weapon. It consists of bullets placed in a highly combustible frame, which, when fired, scatter in a certain sector from the gun barrel.

- shrapnel - ammunition designed to destroy openly located enemy personnel with bullets located inside its body. The hull ruptures and bullets are thrown out of it in flight.

- chemical shells containing a potent toxic substance to destroy enemy personnel. Some types of chemical shells may contain a non-lethal chemical element that deprives enemy soldiers of their combat capability (tear, psychotropic, etc. substances).

- biological projectiles containing a potent biological toxin or a culture of infectious microorganisms. They were intended to destroy or non-lethally incapacitate enemy personnel.

- incendiary projectiles containing a recipe for igniting flammable materials and objects, such as city buildings, fuel depots, etc.

- smoke projectiles containing a formulation to produce smoke in large quantities. They were used to create smoke screens and blind enemy command and observation posts.

— lighting projectiles containing a formulation for creating a long-lasting and brightly burning flame. Used to illuminate the battlefield at night. As a rule, they are equipped with a parachute for longer duration of illumination.

- tracer shells that leave behind a bright trail during their flight, visible to the naked eye.

- propaganda shells containing leaflets inside for agitation of enemy soldiers or dissemination of propaganda among the civilian population in front-line settlements of the enemy.

— training shells intended for training personnel of artillery units. They can be either a dummy or a weight-and-dimensional mock-up, unsuitable for firing, or ammunition suitable for target practice.

Some of these classification characteristics may overlap. For example, high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing tracer shells, etc. are widely known.

The projectile consisted of a body, ammunition (or tracer) and a fuse. Some shells had a stabilizer. The body or core of the projectile was made of alloy steel, or steel cast iron, tungsten, etc. It consisted of a head, cylindrical and belt parts. The projectile body had a sharp-headed or blunt-headed shape. For proper guidance of the projectile along the bore when fired, there is a centering thickening (one or two) on its cylindrical part and a leading belt (made of copper, bimetal, iron-ceramic, nylon) pressed into the groove, which ensures the prevention of breakthrough of powder gases and rotational movement of the projectile when fired, necessary for its stable flight on the trajectory. To detonate a projectile, an impact, non-contact, remote or combined fuse was used. The length of the shells usually ranged from 2.3 to 5.6 calibers.

By caliber, shells are divided into small (20-70 mm), medium (70-155 mm in ground artillery and up to 100 mm in anti-aircraft artillery) and large (over 155 mm in ground and over 100 mm in anti-aircraft artillery) calibers. The power of a projectile depends on the type and mass of its charge and is determined by the filling coefficient of the projectile (the ratio of the mass of the explosive charge to the mass of the finally loaded projectile), which for high-explosive projectiles is up to 25%, high-explosive fragmentation and cumulative up to 15%, armor-piercing up to 2.5 %. For fragmentation shells, the power is also determined by the number of lethal fragments and the radius of the affected area. Projectiles are characterized by range (height), accuracy of fire, safety during handling and durability (during storage).

Mortar shot– ammunition for firing mortars. It consists of a mine, main (ignition) and additional (propellant) powder charges with ignition means. According to their intended purpose, mortar rounds are divided similarly to artillery rounds. Mines are either feathered (most) or rotating. The final loaded finned mine includes a steel or cast iron body, equipment, fuze, stabilizer or tail that deploys after the mine leaves the bore. Rotary mines usually have ridges on the drive flange that engage the rifling of the barrel when loaded. To increase the firing range, active-reactive mines with a jet engine are used. The length of the mines was usually up to 8 calibers.

Missiles are described in the chapter “Missiles and Missile Weapons”.

During the war years, the USSR produced about 7.5 million tons of ammunition, incl. artillery rounds of field and naval artillery - 333.3 million pieces, mortar shells - 257.8 million (of which 50 mm - 41.6 million pieces, 82 mm - 126.6 million pieces), shells MLRS - 14.5 million. In addition, 2.3 million tons of artillery ammunition were at the disposal of Soviet troops at the beginning of the war.

In 1941-1942. Germany captured about 1 million tons of USSR ammunition, incl. 0.6 million tons of artillery.

It should be noted that during the war, Germany spent about 1.5 times (and at the beginning of the war 2 times) less artillery ammunition compared to the USSR, since German artillery fired at targets, and the USSR fired at areas. So on the Eastern Front, German troops spent 5.6 million tons. ammunition, against 8 million tons. Soviet troops.

In Germany, about 9 million tons were produced during the war years. ammunition of all types.

During the war years in the USA, 11 million tons of artillery ammunition and 1.2 million tons were produced. reactive. Including 55 million shells for howitzers, anti-tank and field artillery.

Below are the most common artillery ammunition by caliber and country.

Reducing collateral damage, simplifying logistics, and reducing the time to strike a target are just three of the many advantages of guided munitions.

Ceremony for the presentation by Nammo of its 155-mm Extreme Range projectile, equipped with a ramjet engine that increases the flight range to 100 km. This round could be a game-changer in artillery

If we add here the long range, then it is clear how valuable this type of projectile is for artillerymen and commanders. The main disadvantage is the cost of guided munitions compared to unguided ones. However, it is not entirely correct to make a comparative assessment of individual shells. It is necessary to calculate the total cost of impact on the target, since in some situations it may be necessary to fire significantly more shots with standard projectiles, not to mention the fact that the fire task may not be feasible in principle with unguided or shorter-range projectiles.

The Excalibur IB guided projectile is widely used in modern military operations. At the moment, more than 14,000 such shells have been fired

Increasing accuracy

Currently, the main consumer of guided munitions is the US armed forces. The Army has fired thousands of these rounds in combat operations, and the Navy is also seeking similar capabilities. Although some programs were closed due to cost problems, for example, the 155-mm LRLAP (Long Range Land Attack Projectile) projectile, designed specifically for firing from the Mk51 AGS (Advanced Gun System) gun mount installed on the DDG 1000 class destroyer Zumwalt , the American Navy, however, did not give up trying to find a guided projectile for the AGS itself, as well as for its 127-mm Mk45 guns.

BAE Systems is working on numerous artillery programs. Among them is the High Velocity Projectile, which can be fired from rail guns and standard guns

The US Marine Corps is ready to launch the MTAR (Moving Target Artillery Round) program, which may begin in 2019, with the goal of deploying munitions capable of hitting moving targets in the absence of a GPS signal at ranges from 65 to 95 km. In the future, extended-range guided projectiles will also remain in the sphere of interests of the US Army, which is starting the ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) program to replace 39-caliber barrels in existing systems with 52-caliber barrels, which, in combination with extended-range projectiles, will double their current range.

Meanwhile, Europe is also following these trends and, while numerous companies are developing guided and extended range projectiles, European armies are eyeing these munitions with interest, and some expect to adopt them in the near future.

It would be right to start with the most widely used 155-mm Excalibur projectile, because over 14,000 of them were fired in combat. According to Raytheon, the Excalibur IB, now in mass production, retains the performance of the original projectile while reducing the number of components and cost and has demonstrated reliability in excess of 96%, even in difficult urban terrain, providing an accuracy of 4 meters at maximum ranges of almost 40 km when fired from guns 39 calibers long. In the 2019 budget, the Army requested money to purchase 1,150 Excalibur rounds.

The PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) high-precision guidance kit developed by Orbital ATK is screwed onto a 155-mm artillery shell instead of a fuse; the GPS system and bow rudders allow it to be aimed with high accuracy

Dual-mode homing heads

Although the current variant is a bestseller, Raytheon is far from resting on its laurels. By improving its systems, the company is close to identifying new solutions that can cope with more complex scenarios and new threats. GPS signal jamming was tested in several ways, resulting in a new version of the projectile with improved anti-jamming capabilities and dual-mode guidance. The new Excalibur S ammunition will be guided both by GPS signals and using a homing head (GOS) with semi-active laser homing. The company is discussing its final configuration with potential customers, but specific completion dates have not yet been announced.

Another dual-mode version with guidance at the final part of the trajectory is being developed. It doesn't have a name yet, but according to Raytheon, it's not far behind the S variant in terms of development. An option with a multi-mode seeker is also being considered. Guidance isn't the only component that can evolve. The Army has set out to dramatically increase the range of its cannon artillery, and Raytheon is working on advanced propulsion systems, including bottom gas generators; In addition, new combat units, such as anti-tank, are on the agenda. This may be a response to the already mentioned Marine Corps MTAR project. As for the US Navy, in the summer of 2018 another demonstration firing was carried out with the 127-mm version of the Excalibur N5, compatible with the Mk45 gun. The fleet requires a range of 26 nautical miles (48 km), but the company is confident it can reach or even exceed this figure.

Raytheon is looking at the export market with interest, although possible orders here will be significantly smaller than in the United States. Excalibur is currently being tested with several 155mm artillery systems: PzH200, Arthur, G6, M109L47 and K9. In addition, Raytheon is working on its compatibility with the Caesar and Krab self-propelled guns.

Nexter's Spacido programmable airbrake has recently completed qualification to significantly improve precision.

There is no available data on the number of 155-mm ammunition equipped with the M1156 PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) developed by Orbital ATK (currently Northrop Grumman) and used in combat. Although the first production batch was released in February of this year, over 25,000 of these screw-on GPS-based systems have been manufactured. Two months later, the Department of Defense awarded Orbital ATK a $146 million projectile development contract that extends PGK production until April 2021.

The PGK is screwed onto the projectile instead of a standard fuse, a GPS antenna (SAASM - Selectively Available Anti-Spoofing Module) is built into the nose, followed by four small fixed inclined nose stabilizers and a remote fuse behind them. Programming is done using a hand-held EPIAFS (Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuse-Setter), the same device that is connected to the computer when programming the Excalibur projectile.

Using its experience in developing PGK and sniper ammunition, Orbital ATK is developing a 127 mm PGK-Aft naval projectile, as the guidance element is installed in its tail (English, Aft)

The shells are bigger and better

Based on its experience with the PGK kit, Orbital ATK is currently developing a 127mm projectile aimed at the Navy's guided munitions program for the Mk45 gun. The company proactively wants to demonstrate to the fleet the capabilities of the new PKG-Aft projectile in terms of accuracy and range.

Few details are known about this device, but the name, for example, suggests that it is installed not in the nose, but in the tail part (aft - tail part) of the projectile, while the technology for overcoming overloads in the gun barrel is taken directly from the PGK system. This solution with a tail guidance device is based on a study conducted by ATK together with DARPA on the 12.7 x 99 mm EXASTO (Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance) cartridge. The tail element will also have a rocket motor, which will increase the range to the required 26 nautical miles, and the seeker with terminal guidance will provide accuracy of less than one meter. There is no information on the type of seeker, but the company said that “PGK-Aft supports various advanced seekers and fire missions for direct and indirect fire in all calibers without major modifications to the gun system.” The new projectile is also equipped with an advanced warhead with ready-made submunitions. Orbital ATK successfully live-fired 155mm PGK-Aft prototypes in December 2017 and is currently developing a 127mm precision projectile with the PGK-Aft kit.

BAE Systems is working on the PGK-M (Precision Guidance Kit-Modernised) kit, aiming to improve maneuverability while improving anti-jamming capabilities. The latter is achieved through GPS-based navigation in combination with a rotation-stabilized guidance unit and antenna system. According to the company, the circular probable deviation (CPD) is less than 10 meters, the projectile can hit targets at high angles of attack. After completing over 200 tests, the projectile is now at the subsystem development stage. In January 2018, BAE Systems received a contract to develop this kit into a production model. The PGK-M kit is fully compatible with 155 mm M795 and M549A1 ammunition and M109A7 and M777A2 artillery systems.

In the future, Nexter's Katana family will have a second member, the Katana Mk2a, equipped with wings that will double its range; in this case, the laser-guided version will be developed only after the military submits an application

On board American cruisers

After the decision to close the project on the LRLAP (Long Range Land Attack Projectile) projectile, created for the 155-mm AGS (Advanced Gun System) gun mount, it turned out that not a single projectile was suitable for this weapon without modification. In June 2017, BAE Systems and Leonardo announced cooperation in the field of new high-precision systems based on new modifications of the Vulcano family for various gun systems, including AGS and Mk45 naval guns. The memorandum of understanding between the two companies provides for the development of all artillery systems, but each under a separate agreement. At the moment, an agreement has been signed on two naval guns, but in the future, ground-based systems, for example, M109 and M777, may become part of the agreement. This summer, the BAE-Leonardo team fired the Mk45 gun with the Vulcano GLR GPS/IMU projectile to demonstrate their compatibility. The US Navy has a need for precision-guided munitions and is very interested in extended range projectiles, and the Vulcano family of projectiles meet both of these requirements.

The Vulcano family is close to completing the qualification process, which is being carried out in parallel for ship and ground ammunition, respectively in caliber 127 mm and 155 mm. In accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between Germany and Italy on the guided version and the decision to integrate the laser semi-active seeker from Diehl Defense, the qualification process for the GLR (Guided Long Range) variant is financed equally by the two companies, while the unguided BER (Ballistic Extended Range) variant is financed entirely by Italy. All operational tests have been successfully completed and the Vulcano ammunition is currently undergoing safety testing, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Meanwhile, Leonardo has begun production of a pilot batch, which will allow it to prepare for mass production and accept the final configuration of the projectiles. The launch of full-scale production is planned for early 2019.

Leonardo has developed the Vulcano family of extended-range guided ammunition for 127 mm and 155 mm guns, which are in the final stage of qualification

In 2017, live firing of a 127 mm Vulcano GLR shell from a modified 127/54 gun was carried out on board an Italian ship; and at the beginning of 2018, a shell was fired from the new 127/64 LW gun installed on the FREMM frigate. For the first time, this projectile was fed into a gun mount from a ship's revolver-type magazine, programmed by an induction coil built into the gun, to which data was supplied from the ship's combat control system; thus, complete system integration was demonstrated. As for the ground version, these shells were fired from a PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer, programming was carried out using a portable unit. At the moment, Germany is not seeking to integrate this system into the PzH2000 howitzer, since some modifications to the semi-automatic loading system will be required. In Italy, the shells were also tested with the FH-70 155/39 towed howitzer.

The increase in the range of Vulcano projectiles was achieved through a sub-caliber solution; a pallet was used to seal the projectile in the barrel. The fuse can be set in four modes: impact, delayed, timed and air detonation. BER shells can be fired at a range of more than 60 km, while GLR shells can fly 85 km when fired from a 127 mm gun and 70 km when fired from 155 mm/52 caliber guns (55 km from 155/39). A fuse is installed in the nose of the GLR projectile, then there are four control surfaces that correct the trajectory of the projectile, and behind them is a GPS/IMU unit. Shells for naval guns can be equipped with an infrared seeker, while shells fired at ground targets are equipped with a semi-active laser seeker. These heads slightly increase aerodynamic drag, reducing range to a minimal extent. Although the configuration has now been effectively adopted and testing has confirmed the predicted range and accuracy, Leonardo is working to reduce the KBO of the laser-guided variant under an additional contract and is confident that it will cope with the new requirements. This modification will be adopted for all Vulcano projectiles; the company expects to produce one version of the projectile with a semi-active seeker.

In addition to Italy and Germany, the Netherlands has observer status in the Vulcano family of projectiles program, and the possibility of purchasing them is being considered by several other potential customers, including South Korea and Australia. Recently, the Slovak firm Konstrukta-Defence signed a cooperation agreement with Leonardo to promote Vulcano ammunition and integrate it with its artillery systems, such as the Zuzana 2 155/52.

TopGun high-precision artillery fuze developed by Israel Aerospace Industries

Nexter enters the 3D world

Nexter Ammunition has begun an evolutionary program in the field of 155 mm ammunition, which involves the development of 3D printed ammunition elements. The first step was the high-precision Bonus projectile. The Spacido trajectory correction kit was the next step. This summer, the company announced that all shooting was carried out successfully, qualifications were completed and all that remained was to issue certification documents.

Screw-on instead of a fuze, the Spacido is an air brake that reduces range error. A small Doppler radar checks the initial speed and monitors the first part of the trajectory, an RF link provides data transmission to Spacido, whose computer decides when the brake should deploy, reducing dispersion by a factor of three. Essentially, although the jammer-resistant Spacido device costs twice as much, it can significantly reduce the consumption of projectiles and engage targets in close proximity to friendly forces.

At Eurosatory 2018, Nexter announced a new family of extended-range precision 155mm artillery shells called Katana. The development of new projectiles was carried out as part of the Menhir program, which was announced in June 2016. It was launched in response to customer needs for increased accuracy and range. Above all, the French army requires precision for what it calls "urban artillery." The projectile, designated Katana Mk1, has four rigidly fixed wings in the nose, followed by four corrective rudders connected to an IMU-GPS guidance unit. All wings, including the tail rudders, open after the projectile leaves the barrel. Currently, the projectile is at the technological development stage. The first firing was carried out under the supervision of the Defense Acquisition Directorate. The goal of this program is to provide the army with a guided projectile with a CEP of less than 10 meters and a range of 30 km when fired from a 52-caliber barrel. According to the schedule, the Katana Mk1 projectile should appear on the market in two years. The second step will be to increase the range to 60 km, this will be achieved by adding a set of folding wings, the arrangement of which could be seen in the mock-up displayed at Eurosatory. They will provide lift during the descent phase, which will double the flight range. Nexter intends to surpass the capabilities of other competitors' projectiles in terms of range and warhead combination, but at a lower cost, set at 60 thousand euros. The projectile, designated Katana Mk2a, will be available around 2022. In two years, when the need arises, Nexter will be able to develop a 155-mm Katana Mk2b laser-guided projectile with a meter CEP.

In addition to increasing range and targeting, Nexter is also developing new warheads using new materials and 3D printing

Nexter is also working on warhead technology using 3D printing and aluminium, a material made from nylon filled with aluminum dust. This will allow you to control the damage radius in the event of shelling of a target in close proximity to your forces. The company today began researching opto-pyrotechnic technologies to control the initiation of an explosion using optical fiber; all of this research is still at an early stage and will not be included in the Katana projectile program.

Israel Aerospace Industries is ready to complete the development of its TopGun artillery fuze. The screw-on system, which performs trajectory correction along two coordinates, reduces the CEP of a conventional projectile to less than 20 meters. The range with such a fuse is 40 km when fired from a gun with a 52-caliber barrel, guidance is carried out by the INS-GPS unit. The program is currently at the qualification stage.

Nammo has qualified its expanded family of ammunition. The first customer was Finland, which will soon begin testing them on its K9 Thunder 155/52 self-propelled guns

On the Norwegian side

The Norwegian company Nammo recently awarded the first contract for its 155mm extended range artillery ammunition. Based on their rich experience, they developed a special module - a bottom gas generator. Small-caliber precision-guided munition manufacturing processes were used to minimize material and shape variations, which consequently minimizes changes in airflow and mass distribution.

The program was partially financed by the Norwegian Defense Property Agency, but the first customer was Finland, which signed a contract in August 2017, the result of which will be firing tests scheduled for 2019. Compared to standard projectiles, the 155mm long-range low-sensitivity high-explosive fragmentation projectile can travel 40 km when fired from a 52-caliber barrel. Nammo is waiting for an order from the Norwegian army.

A close-up of a 155mm projectile powered by Nammo's Extreme Range ramjet engine. The key component in it is the aerodynamic propulsion system and therefore not a single sensor is installed in the nose of the projectile

Nammo decided to use radically new technology by integrating a ramjet engine into a 155-mm projectile under the Extreme Range program. The ramjet engine, or ramjet, is the simplest airbreathing engine because it uses forward motion to compress incoming air without the use of an axial or centrifugal compressor, and there are no moving parts. The required minimum muzzle velocity is Mach 2.5-2.6, and a standard 155mm projectile leaves a 52-caliber barrel at approximately Mach 3. A ramjet is by nature a self-regulating engine, maintaining a constant speed regardless of flight altitude. A speed of about Mach 3 is maintained for about 50 seconds, and thrust is provided by NTR3 fuel (concentrated hydrogen peroxide) with additives. Thus, the range of a ramjet projectile is increased to more than 100 km, which turns the artillery weapon into a much more flexible and versatile system. Nammo plans to conduct the first ballistic tests in late 2019 or early 2020. Since an increase in range results in a 10-fold increase in COE, Nammo, together with a partner company, is working in parallel on a guidance system for this projectile based on a GPS/INS module. In this case, no seeker can be installed in the bow; the operating principle of a ramjet engine is aerodynamic and, therefore, an air intake device is simply necessary for its operation. The projectile is compatible with the protocol for 155-mm JBMOU L52 projectiles (Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding). It defines a typical nose air intake with a central cone, four forward stabilizers and four curved tail wings that deploy as the projectile leaves the barrel. The warhead of the projectile is high-explosive fragmentation, and the amount of explosives will be reduced compared to a standard 155-mm projectile. Nammo said that the explosive mass “will be approximately the same as in a 120-mm projectile.” The projectile will be used against stationary targets, ground air defense facilities, radars, command posts, etc., the flight time will be on the order of several minutes. In accordance with the requirements of the Norwegian armed forces, Nammo plans to begin mass production of this projectile in 2024-2025.

Expal's 155 ER02A1 projectile has been adopted by the Spanish Army. It can be equipped with either a tapered tail section or a bottom gas generator, providing a flight range of 30 and 40 km, respectively, when fired from a 52-caliber barrel

At the Eurosatory exhibition, Expal Systems confirmed the signing of an agreement for the supply of 155 mm extended range ammunition. The 155-mm ER02A1 projectile can be equipped with either a tapered tail module or a bottom gas generator, which provide a flight range of 30 and 40 km, respectively, when fired from a 52-caliber barrel. The high-explosive variant, developed jointly with the Spanish Army, has passed qualification, unlike the illumination and smoke variants, which have yet to qualify. The agreement also includes the newly developed EC-102 electronic fuze with three modes: impact, timer and delay. In accordance with the operational needs of the Spanish army, Expal will supply new projectiles and fuses for them over the next five years.

Based on materials from sites:
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
www.baesystems.com
www.raytheon.com
www.leonardocompany.com
www.nexter-group.fr
www.nammo.com
www.imisystems.com
www.orbitalatk.com
www.maxam.net
www.milmag.pl
www.doppeladler.com
pinterest.com
fas.org
armyman.info

Artillery ammunition are weapons that are part of missile and artillery weapons (RAV) fire systems and largely determine the combat capabilities and effectiveness of fire destruction of the enemy, including the solution of a number of special tasks to support troop operations.

They can be used to destroy manpower and equipment, destroy military and civilian structures, as well as to perform special tasks: smoke control, camouflage maneuvers of friendly troops, preventing the deployment of enemy troops, illuminating an area or illuminating targets in the dark, etc. .

Artillery shells are among the main types of material means of warfare. The provision of highly effective ammunition in the required quantities played and continues to play a key role in achieving victory. With the development of technology and means of defense, the consumption of ammunition during combat operations increases immeasurably. Thus, in 1760, during the capture of Berlin, Russian artillery expended 1,200 shells, and Soviet artillery, during the assault on Berlin in 1945, expended 7,226 wagons of shells and mines.

At the present stage of development of military art, the performance of combat missions must be ensured with the least expenditure of material resources. This requires widespread use of highly effective ammunition.

Depending on the specifics of the fire missions being solved, as a rule, several types of ammunition are included in the combat sets of artillery systems.

HIGH EXPLOSIVE ARTILLERY SHELLS

The basis of the ammunition of the ground forces cannon and rocket artillery is high explosive (HE) ammunition. This is due to the fact that HE ammunition hits up to 60% of all targets on the battlefield. This type of artillery shells allows you to effectively combat almost all types of targets: openly located and manpower located in shelters, field-type fortifications, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, artillery guns and mortars both in firing positions and on the march, OP, radar, etc. .d. Moreover, modern artillery delivery vehicles make it possible to hit targets at a distance of more than 50 km from the line of combat contact.

The improvement of the ammunition of the ground forces' cannon and rocket artillery is currently moving along the path of increasing the firing range, the power of action at the target, and reducing technical dispersion. The firing range is being increased mainly through modernization of delivery vehicles and improvement of the shot design (aerodynamic shape of the projectile body, design of the propellant charge), the use of gas generators in the design of the projectile, bottom excavation and the use of new high-energy powders, as well as the use of active-rocket projectiles .

Increasing the effectiveness of ammunition is carried out by using new explosives, lighting and smoke compositions, alloyed projectile steels, and using a body design with organized crushing. When designing new ammunition, special attention is currently paid to the safety of their combat use throughout their entire life cycle.

CLUSTER ARTILLERY AMMUNITION

In order to increase the efficiency of destruction of area objects, cluster munitions with fragmentation combat elements. Projectiles of this type are used in cannon artillery of 120, 152 and 203 mm calibers, 240 mm caliber mortars, 220 and 300 mm caliber MLRS, as well as in TR and OTR combat units. Due to the many points of rupture of combat elements (BE), the area of ​​fragmentation damage compared to conventional ammunition of the same caliber increases many times. Cluster munitions are especially effective when firing at manpower, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles located openly and located in open fortifications.

CONCRETE PROJECTILES

With the advent of fortification structures such as bunkers, in which the personnel inside are covered with a concrete cap that is not penetrated by conventional HE shells, the need arose to create ammunition capable of effectively combating these targets. For this purpose they were created concrete-piercing shells. They combine two types of action: impact (due to kinetic energy) and high-explosive from the activation of a bursting charge. Due to the need to achieve high kinetic energy, concrete-piercing shells are used only in large-caliber guns - 152 and 203 mm. The defeat of personnel inside the fortification occurs due to the high-explosive action or due to fragments of the concrete cap formed when the projectile hits.

HIGH PRECISION ARTILLERY AMMUNITION

In the 80s of the last century, artillery equipment appeared precision-guided ammunition. This is the name given to ammunition that, like homing missiles, has devices on board that detect a target and guide the ammunition towards it until it hits it directly. The first domestic samples of such ammunition - the 240-mm adjustable high-explosive mine "Smelchak" and the 152-mm guided high-explosive fragmentation projectile "Krasnopol" - hit targets illuminated by the radiation of a laser target designator. This type of guidance system is called semi-active laser guidance system.

In the 90s, a new type of high-precision ammunition appeared, capable of autonomously, without human intervention, detecting armored targets by their thermal radiation. The first such sample - a 300-mm cluster projectile with self-aiming combat elements (SPBE) for the Smerch MLRS was created in Russia. The main components of the SPBE are the target sensor - an optical-electronic detector with a narrow field of view - and the associated warhead of the "shock core" type. Such a warhead is similar to a cumulative one, but has a lining in the form of a spherical segment of small curvature. When detonated, a high-speed compact kinetic action element is formed from the lining, falling into the area observed by the target sensor.

Further development of high-precision artillery ammunition is in the following directions:

• creating homing projectiles and combat elements with autonomous homing heads;
• increasing the noise immunity of autonomous target sensors and homing heads by increasing the number of detection channels of different physical nature - visible range, thermal, radiometric and radar, laser ranging, etc.;
• creating combined semi-active-passive guidance systems capable of aiming ammunition at laser-illuminated targets and switching to an autonomous (passive) mode during the guidance process or operating in only one of the modes;
• equipping long-range high-precision projectiles with control systems in the middle part of the trajectory, operating according to data from space radio navigation systems.

ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES (ATGM)

Anti-tank missile systems occupy a special place in the missile and artillery weapons system. ATGM continue to be the most effective means of units of the Ground Forces in confrontation with tanks and armored combat vehicles.

At the end of the 60s, to replace the first generation anti-tank systems with the manual control system "Malyutka", the anti-tank systems "Fagot" and "Metis" were developed with a semi-automatic control system, in which the operator's task is to point and hold the sight mark on the target. The missile is guided automatically using a direction finder located in the ground control equipment.

Further development of wearable ATGMs followed the path of ensuring firing at night without target illumination, increasing armor penetration and reducing weight and size characteristics.

Based on the experience of numerous local wars, armed conflicts and tactical exercises, the first generation ATGMs and their improved versions with a semi-automatic control system - the domestic complexes "Phalanga-M" ("Phalanga-P"), "Malyutka-M" ("Malyutka-P") ") - were put into service as part of the Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters, respectively, which were the most dangerous enemy for tanks due to their high maneuverability and the inability of tank fire control systems to combat air targets.

The main areas for improving ATGMs are:

• expanding the range of combat use conditions (night, precipitation, fog);
• increasing the firing range and ensuring shooting from closed firing positions;
• increasing the combat rate of fire of the complexes;
• increased noise immunity;
• the use of unconventional trajectories for approaching ATGMs to the target and methods of hitting them;
• development of multi-purpose complexes.

SPECIAL ARTILLERY AMMUNITION

During combat operations, in addition to the destruction or suppression of enemy targets, other tasks arise that are not directly related to the destruction of personnel and equipment. To perform such tasks they are used special purpose ammunition: smoke, smoking, lighting, etc.

Smoke and smoke-smoking shells (mines) are used to camouflage the maneuvers of friendly troops or to blind enemy troops. Such ammunition is used in systems of almost all calibers of artillery of the Ground Forces: from 82 to 152 mm. These shells (mines) are especially effective in calm weather, when the smoke cloud does not dissipate for a long time.

When conducting combat operations at night, illumination ammunition is used to illuminate enemy targets. They, like smoke ones, were developed and adopted for service with artillery systems of caliber from 82 to 152 mm.

The burning time of a torch of illuminating ammunition descending by parachute ranges from 25 to 90 seconds, and when they are sequentially “hung” by artillery, the illumination zone can be maintained throughout the entire duration of the combat mission. In addition, the massive use of illumination ammunition at night has a strong psychological impact on enemy personnel.

AMMUNITION FOR TANK GUNS

As is known, the basis of the striking force of combined arms units and formations are subunits and units that include armored vehicles. The main armament of modern Russian tanks (125-mm D-81 cannon) includes the following types of ammunition: armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation rounds, tank guided missiles.

For 125-mm guns, separate-case-loading shots are used. The main propellant charge is the same for all types of projectiles, which ensures the unification of tank loading mechanisms and safety when fired.

Armor-piercing sabot shells (APS) are one of the main means of destroying highly protected objects. With all the variety of methods for accelerating a projectile, the principle of hitting an armored target remains unchanged - penetration of armor and the formation of damaging fragments in the space behind the armor due to the mechanical impact of a high-density body at a high impact speed. The dynamics of the increase in the armor penetration of BPS practically corresponded to the increase in the resistance of tank protection. The increase in the armor-piercing effect of BPS was mainly due to an increase in overall weight characteristics and improvement in the design of projectiles: the use of cores and bodies made of materials with increased physical and mechanical properties, the transition to long-body projectiles.

Action cumulative shells is based on breaking through the external defense - the target - due to the cumulative effect and hitting vulnerable elements beyond the barrier with a fragmentation stream. The constant confrontation between increasing the armor penetration of cumulative weapons and increasing target protection has shaped the appearance of modern cumulative ammunition as a high-tech product with a tandem construction scheme. The use of new design solutions made it possible to raise the main characteristic of cumulative ammunition (armor penetration) to the level of penetration of homogeneous armor over one meter.

HAND ANTI-TANK GRENADE LAUNCHES

The intensive saturation of the armies of various countries with armored vehicles and their use in almost all types of combined arms combat created conditions under which artillery could not everywhere accompany and provide fire support to the infantry. There was a need to equip it with powerful anti-tank weapons, which would provide it with the ability to successfully fight tanks in close combat. The first anti-tank weapons - anti-tank rifles - appeared already in the First World War. Subsequently, the improvement of armored weapons and anti-tank weapons occurred constantly.

Today, an important role in the fight against tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, along with anti-tank artillery and ATGMs, is played by the so-called melee anti-tank weapons (PTS)- grenade launchers.

Anti-tank grenade launchers were first used during World War II. In the Soviet Army, the first hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher RPG-2 was put into service in 1948. Combat operations in local wars and armed conflicts during special operations once again confirmed that in the fight against tanks and other armored targets, anti-tank grenade launchers are light and maneuverable, with powerful cumulative ammunition - are a highly effective and mandatory element of the anti-tank weapons system of the armies of most states.

Currently, the Russian Army (RA) is armed with rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades with disposable grenade launchers (RPG-18, RPG-22, RPG-26, RPG-27) and reusable hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers (RPG-7, RPG-29 ) and easel (SPG-9M), with shots for various purposes.

Subsequently, on the basis of RPG-26 and RPG-27 rocket-propelled grenades, samples of assault weapons RShG-1 and RShG-2 were developed, equipped with new warheads of multi-factor lethality, capable of effectively hitting not only manpower (especially when the ammunition hits the premises ), but also unarmored or lightly armored vehicles.

Military conflicts in which formations of our Armed Forces participated in the 80s - 90s of the 20th century showed the high effectiveness of this type of weapon, especially with a thermobaric warhead.

Modern close combat weapons are superior in reliability, ease of maintenance and operation, and maneuverability, and in terms of effectiveness of combat use they are at the level of the best foreign analogues.

Thus, the RA currently has a large number of different types of ammunition in its arsenal, ensuring the fulfillment of the entire volume of fire missions assigned to missile weapons and artillery.

In these conditions, the technical policy of the GRAU of the RF Ministry of Defense for the improvement and development of domestic artillery ammunition is based on ensuring the requirements for increasing the efficiency and reliability of action, increasing the shelf life of combat and operational characteristics, safety in operation, manufacturability of production using domestic raw materials and industrial base.

The content of this page was prepared for the “Modern Army” portal based on materials from the article by Colonel General N. Svertilov “Weapons and Ammunition.” When copying content, please remember to include a link to the original page.

An artillery shot is a set of elements of artillery ammunition required to fire one shot.

The main elements of an artillery shot are a projectile, a fuse (tube), a powder propellant charge, a cartridge case, and a primer (ignition) sleeve.

Depending on the method of connecting individual elements to each other before loading, artillery shots can be unitary loading, separately - cartridge loading, cap loading.

In a unitary loaded artillery shot, the projectile, propellant charge and primer sleeve are combined into one. A unitary-loading shot has a constant powder charge, and the cartridge case is firmly connected to the projectile. Loading the gun with it is done in one step. A mine and a rocket can be classified as unitary loaded shots.

In a separate cartridge-loaded shot, the primer sleeve and the powder charge are in the cartridge case, and the projectile is separate from the cartridge case. The gun is loaded in two steps.

By purpose artillery shots are divided into combat, practical, training and blank.

Live rounds are intended for use in live shooting situations.

Practical rounds are intended for target practice and testing of materiel, and do not contain combat equipment.

Training rounds do not contain combat elements and are used to study the firing mechanism, train the gun crew in loading techniques and prepare ammunition for firing.

Blank shots have no projectiles and are used for sound simulation.

By caliber shells are divided into shells of small, medium and large calibers.

Projectiles and mines with a caliber of less than 76mm are classified as small caliber, those with a caliber from 76 to 152mm are classified as medium caliber, and more than 152mm are classified as large caliber.

According to the method of ensuring stability in flight shells and mines are divided into rotation-stabilized and fin-stabilized.

By purpose of projectiles can be of primary purpose, special and auxiliary purpose.

Primary purpose projectiles are used to suppress, destroy and destroy various targets. These include fragmentation - high-explosive, armor-piercing, concrete-piercing and incendiary shells.

High-explosive fragmentation shells are the most common and simplest in design.

There are three types of armor-piercing shells: armor-piercing caliber, armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative.

Armor-piercing caliber and sub-caliber projectiles penetrate armor due to the high kinetic energy of the projectile body hitting the armor. Cumulative projectiles penetrate armor due to the efficient use of energy, the explosive material of the shaped charge, its cumulation (concentration) and ensuring directional action.

The effect of cumulative projectiles consists of burning through armor and damaging effects behind the armor. The destructive effect behind the armor is ensured by the combined action of the cumulative jet, metal particles of the armor and detonation products of the explosive charge.

Concrete-piercing shells are intended for the destruction of reinforced concrete, especially strong stone structures, and basements.

Incendiary shells are designed to create fires at enemy locations.

Special-purpose shells are used to illuminate areas, set up smoke screens, and deliver propaganda material to enemy locations. Such projectiles include lighting, smoke, propaganda and other projectiles.

The cartridge case is part of an artillery shot and is intended to contain a powder charge and ignition means. Based on the material, cartridges are divided into metal and cartridges with a combustible body.

A propellant charge is placed inside the cartridge case. In artillery shots of separate cartridge loading, the powder charge consists of separate beams, which allows you to change the mass of the charge. The bulk of the charge for an artillery shot is smokeless powder. The other constituent part of an artillery shot charge is black powder, used to ignite the smokeless powder from the primer bushing primer.

Fuses and tubes are designed to activate a projectile (mine) at the required point of the trajectory or after hitting an obstacle. Fuzes are used for projectiles (mines) filled with high explosive, and tubes are used for projectiles (mines) filled with an expelling charge (lighting, incendiary, propaganda).

Based on the type of action, fuses are divided into impact (contact), remote and non-contact. Based on the point of connection with the projectile, fuses are divided into head, bottom and head fuses.

Based on the method of exciting the detonation chain, fuses are divided into mechanical and electrical.

Based on their excitation, non-contact fuses are divided into radio fuses, optical fuses, acoustic fuses, infrared fuses, etc.

Impact fuses are triggered when they encounter an obstacle.

The fuses have three settings: fragmentation action, high-explosive action, ricochet action or high-explosive action with delay.

Remote fuses are triggered along the trajectory after a specified time has elapsed in accordance with the setting on the remote mechanism. Proximity fuses cause shells to detonate at the most favorable distance from the target.

Proximity fuses that sense the energy emitted by the target are called passive fuses; fuses that emit energy and react to it after being reflected from the target are called active fuses.

In their design and action, the tubes are close to remote fuses, but since they are intended mainly for incendiary, illuminating and propaganda shells, the tubes do not have a detonator. As a result of the tube being triggered, the powder firecracker is ignited, from which the flames are transferred to the expelling charge.

Mortar shots.

A mortar round consists of a mine, a fuze or tube, and a powder charge.

Mines can be of primary, special and auxiliary purpose.

Main purpose mines include high-explosive, fragmentation, high-explosive, and incendiary.

Special purpose mines include: smoke, lighting and propaganda mines.

Mines for auxiliary purposes include: educational and practical.

The mine consists of a shell, equipment and a stabilizer.

The shell of the mine is made of steel or steel cast iron. A fuse is screwed into the head of the mine, ensuring that the mine operates at the target.

Filled mines are determined by their purpose.

The stabilizer of the mine is intended to give it stability in flight, to secure the powder charge and to center the mine in the mortar barrel.

Missiles.

A missile consists of a warhead and a jet engine.

The warhead of the projectile consists of a steel shell, ammunition and a fuse. According to its purpose, the warhead of a missile can be for primary, special or auxiliary purposes. In accordance with this, the equipment of a warhead, like an artillery shell, can be different.

The jet engine is used to impart forward motion to the projectile. It consists of a housing, an igniter and a nozzle block.

According to the method of stabilization in flight, rockets are divided into feathered and turbojet, which have a high angular rotation speed in flight.

For feathered projectiles, stabilizers are located in the tail section of the jet engine, ensuring the stability of the projectile in flight. Feathered missiles are given rotation when launched. Turbojet projectiles are given rotation by an engine whose nozzles are located at an angle to the axis of the projectile.

3rd study question: "Classification of missiles, general structure and purpose."

Combat missile is an unmanned, controlled or uncontrolled aircraft on a trajectory, flying under the influence of reactive force and designed to deliver a warhead to a target.

Rockets are classified according to the following criteria:

· the missiles belong to the branch of the armed forces;

· combat purpose;

· starting place and target location;

· design characteristics.

1. By belonging to the branch of the armed forces distinguish between: combat missiles of the Strategic Missile Forces, RV and A SV, missiles of air defense forces.

The Strategic Missile Forces are armed with medium-class missiles with a launch range of 5,500 km and intercontinental missiles with a launch range of over 5,500 km.

The RV SV is armed with medium-range (with a launch range of over 100 km) and short-range missiles.

The Ground Forces have formations, units and air defense units armed with missiles to destroy air targets.

The formations, units and subunits of the Army are armed with:

· in missile formations and units - operational-tactical and tactical missiles on mobile launchers:

· in anti-aircraft missile formations, units and subunits - anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft missile and gun systems on a tracked or wheeled chassis, man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

2. According to the combat purpose of the missile are divided into tactical, operational-tactical and strategic.

Tactical missiles include missiles designed to destroy objects located directly on the battlefield and in the tactical depth of the enemy’s defense.

Operational-tactical missiles are designed to perform tactical and operational missions.

Strategic missiles are designed to solve important strategic problems to achieve decisive goals in war.

3. Regarding the start location and goal All military missiles are divided into the following classes:

· “earth – earth”;

· “air – ground”;

· “ship – earth”;

· “earth – ship”;

· “air – ship”;

· “ship – ship”;

· “earth – air”;

· “air – air”;

· “ship – air”.

4. Design characteristics of missiles determined by the type of engine, the number of stages, and the presence of a control system.

Based on the type of engine, there are rockets with a liquid rocket engine (LPRE), rockets with a solid propellant rocket engine (solid propellant rocket engine), and rockets with an air-jet engine (APR).

Based on the number of stages, the rocket is divided into single-stage and multi-stage. Combat missiles can be two or three stage. The separation of each stage from subsequent ones that continue the flight occurs as fuel is consumed.

In accordance with the flight trajectory, ballistic and cruise missiles are distinguished. Ballistic missiles include missiles that fly along a ballistic trajectory. Cruise missiles have a glider and resemble a fighter plane in appearance.

All military missiles, depending on their control capabilities, are divided into two groups: unguided and guided.

Unguided rockets include those whose flight direction is determined at the moment of launch by the position of the launcher.

Guided missiles have a control system. Rocket control system is a complex of equipment and devices designed to control a rocket or its head part in flight. The missile control system includes meters - converters (sensors), computing devices and executive (control) bodies. Depending on the method of obtaining navigation information and the adopted guidance method, missiles with an autonomous flight control system are distinguished: missiles with a telecontrol and homing system, as well as missiles with a combined control system.

Main design elements:

Rocket body- this is the main power structure of the rocket, designed for placement, assembly and fastening of all units, components and parts. The case usually has several structural connectors that divide it into compartments. The main ones are: head, instrument, fuel, tail (propulsion), connecting (in multi-stage rockets).

Head compartment serves, as a rule, to accommodate a warhead with a fuse. Its design must reliably protect the instruments and devices located inside from aerodynamic, thermal and other loads.

In the instrument compartment the on-board equipment of the control system is located, which performs two main tasks: it ensures a stabilized (stable) flight of the rocket along the trajectory, and generates commands to change the rocket’s flight path.

Fuel compartment- the largest on the rocket. The fuel reserve is up to 80% or more of the initial launch mass of the rocket.

Tail compartment protects the engine from direct influence of external forces. The executive bodies of the control system are attached to it.

4th study question: “Purpose, composition and tactical and technical characteristics of anti-aircraft complexes of the Ground Forces.”

The solution to the task of destroying enemy air attack weapons is assigned to anti-aircraft missile (artillery) formations, units and air defense units of the Ground Forces. Their material basis is anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-aircraft artillery systems of various types.

Modern anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems and complexes can destroy airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles and other aircraft, tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft weapons: guided missiles, bombs and cassettes.

Basic tactical and technical characteristics of anti-aircraft missile systems.

Based on the maximum range of destruction of air targets, anti-aircraft missile systems are divided into long-range systems (100 km or more); medium range (20-100 km); short range (10-20 km); short-range (up to 10 km)

Based on mobility, air defense systems are divided into stationary, semi-stationary and mobile. The Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces mainly use mobile air defense systems.

Mobile air defense systems There are self-propelled, towed, transportable and portable

In self-propelled complexes, combat and technical equipment are located on one or more tracked (wheeled) self-propelled chassis.

In towed air defense systems they are placed on wheeled trailers or semi-trailers.

Transportable air defense systems partially or completely transported in the bodies of wheeled or tracked vehicles.

Portable air defense systems usually worn by crew personnel.

Anti-aircraft missile system "Thor" provides combat against the following targets: cruise and anti-radar missiles, glide bombs, tactical aircraft, helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft. The basis of the complex is a combat vehicle on a tracked chassis with 8 missiles in launchers inside the BM turret in a vertical position.

The complex provides detection, identification and processing of up to 25 targets in motion and at a standstill, tracking of up to 10 targets in a given sector, and firing of targets from a short stop with 1-2 missiles aimed at the target. The reaction time of the complex is 8-12 seconds; (speed of targets fired up to 700 m/s (up to 2500 km/h).

Borders of the affected area: height 0.01-6 km, range 1.5-12 km.

With single missiles, the Thor combat vehicle fires up to 6 targets per minute. An anti-aircraft missile battery consisting of 4 combat vehicles can fire up to 15 targets per minute. The readiness time for firing from the march (when accompanying a target in motion) is at least 3 seconds.

travel speed up to 65 km/h.

Combat crew - 4 people.

Anti-aircraft missile system "Tunguska" ensures the destruction of air targets from a standstill, short stops and on the move in various weather conditions, at any time of the day, as well as in conditions of the use of radar and optical interference.

The basis of the complex is a self-propelled anti-aircraft installation on a tracked chassis with two 30-mm double-barreled machine guns and 8 anti-aircraft guided missiles placed in launchers. Each ZSU is equipped with a transport-anti-aircraft vehicle on an off-road vehicle chassis.

The reaction time of the complex is 8-10 seconds.

The speed of targets being fired is up to 500 m/s (1800 km/h).

Boundary of the affected area by the cannon channel -

Altitude 0-3 km, range 0.2-4 km with a missile channel;

Height 1.5-3.5 km, range 2.5-8 km

Travel speed up to 65 km/h

Combat crew - 4 people

Anti-aircraft missile batteries and motorized rifle (tank) regiments are armed with man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS), which are designed to destroy low-flying enemy air targets in visual visibility conditions. Firing is carried out at stationary and maneuvering targets, both towards and after the target. The missile is launched by an anti-aircraft gunner from the shoulder in a standing position or from a kneeling position in an open position that provides visibility into the airspace. Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems are equipped with interrogators. When starting, first there is a request for the target and if the target responds with the correct code, then the start circuit is blocked.

Man-portable anti-aircraft missile system "Igla" ensures the destruction of jet, turboprop and propeller-driven aircraft and helicopters on oncoming and catch-up courses in conditions of visual visibility of the target.

Ready to start time no more than 5 seconds.

Speed ​​of targets being fired: towards – 360 m/s

catching up – 320 m/s

Boundaries of the affected area: maximum height on oncoming courses - 2 km, on catch-up courses - 2.5 km, minimum height of damage - 0.01 km.

Transfer time from traveling to combat position is no more than 13 seconds

Combat crew - 1 person.

Elements of anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems./

Anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), anti-aircraft missile system (AAMS)– a set of combat and technical means that ensure preparation for firing, firing, maintenance and maintenance of all its elements in combat readiness. The anti-aircraft missile system (system) ensures the autonomous execution of missions to destroy air targets with anti-aircraft missiles.

The main elements of the air defense system are:

· detection and target designation system;

· rocket control system;

one or more anti-aircraft guided missiles;

· launcher;

· technical means.

The basis of the detection system Most air defense systems consist of radar stations that produce a circular (sector) overview of the airspace and determine the coordinates of detected targets.

Target designation devices are devices for processing and analyzing information about the air situation received from detection radars, which is used to make decisions to engage air targets.

SAM control system includes launch control devices and means for guiding the missile to the target. Control devices ensure that the launcher with the missile defense system rotates towards the target and launches the anti-aircraft missile at a set time automatically or when the operator presses a button.

Means for pointing a missile at a target are a set of devices located on the ground that provide continuous determination of the coordinates of the target and the missile defense system and pointing it at the target.

Anti-aircraft guided missile (SAM) is a jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle designed to engage air targets. The main elements of the missile defense system: airframe, on-board guidance equipment, missile warhead, propulsion system. To aim missiles at a target, the following methods are distinguished: tele-guidance (command and beam), homing (passive, semi-active, active) and combined guidance (a combination of tele-guidance and homing).

Anti-aircraft missile launcher– a device designed for placement, pre-launch preparation and launch of a rocket in a given direction.

Technical means include transport, lifting and loading, inspection and testing, assembly and repair equipment, which provides testing, repair work, transportation of missiles, charging launchers.

Military air defense units and subunits are armed with military equipment that has high combat capabilities, allowing them to destroy enemy air forces in conditions of electronic warfare and the use of high-precision weapons.

Guided ammunition is a relatively late entry into the history of howitzers because it uses electronics that must be resistant not only to the crushing effects of the shot, but also to the destructive torsional forces created by the rifling system. In addition, receivers that can quickly pick up GPS signals at the exit of the muzzle and at the same time withstand enormous loads have yet to be invented.

The American army tested the Excalibur guided projectile in real combat, firing it from M109A5 Paladin and M777A2 howitzers.

The first shot of the XM982 guided projectile was fired in May 2007 near Baghdad from an M109A6 Paladin howitzer. This ammunition was developed by Raytheon in conjunction with BAE Systems Bofors and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

Directly behind the multi-mode nose fuse, it has a GPS/INS (satellite positioning system/inertial navigation system) guidance unit, followed by a control compartment with four forward-opening nose rudders, then a multifunctional warhead and, finally, the bottom of the projectile is located in the tail section of the projectile. gas generator and rotating stabilizing surfaces.

Excalibur guided projectile

On the ascending part of the trajectory, only inertial sensors work; when the projectile reaches its highest point, the GPS receiver is activated and after a moment the nose rudders open. Next, according to the target coordinates and flight time, the flight in the middle section of the trajectory is optimized. The nose rudders not only allow you to direct the projectile to the target, but also create sufficient lift, providing a controlled flight trajectory different from the ballistic one and increasing the firing range compared to standard ammunition. Finally, in accordance with the type of warhead and type of target, the trajectory at the final stage of the projectile’s flight is optimized.

The first version of the Increment Ia-1 ammunition, used in Iraq and Afghanistan, did not have a bottom gas generator and its range was limited to 24 km. Data from the front lines showed 87% reliability and accuracy of less than 10 meters. With the addition of a bottom gas generator, Increment Ia-2 projectiles, also known as M982, could fly more than 30 km.

However, reliability problems with MACS 5 (Modular Artillery Charge System) propellant charges limited their range; in Afghanistan in 2011, Excalibur shells were fired with charges 3 and 4. Severe criticism of these first Excalibur shells was associated with their high cost, which was also influenced by the reduction in purchases of version Ia-2 shells from 30,000 to 6,246 pieces.

US Army gunners are ready to fire an Excalibur shell. Option Ib has been in production since April 2014 and is not only cheaper than its predecessors, but also more accurate.

Excalibur Ib, currently in mass production, is ready to enter the foreign market. A laser-guided version of this projectile is being developed.

Since 2008, the US Army has been striving to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of new ammunition and, in this regard, has issued two contracts for design and modification. In August 2010, it selected Raytheon to fully develop and produce the Excalibur Ib projectile, which replaced the Ia-2 variant on Raytheon's production lines in April 2014 and is currently in mass production. According to the company, its cost has been reduced by 60% while increasing its characteristics; Acceptance tests showed that 11 shells fell an average of 1.26 meters from the target and 30 shells fell an average of 1.6 meters from the target.

A total of 760 live rounds were fired with this projectile in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Excalibur has a multi-mode fuze programmable as impact, delayed impact or air burst. In addition to the American Army and Marine Corps, the Excalibur projectile is also in service with Australia, Canada and Sweden.

For the foreign market, Raytheon decided to develop the Excalibur-S projectile, which also features a laser homing head (GOS) with a semi-active laser guidance function. The first tests of the new version were carried out in May 2014 at the Yuma test site.

The first stages of targeting are the same as the main variant of Excalibur, in the last stage it activates its laser seeker to lock on the target due to the reflected coded laser beam. This allows the ammunition to be aimed with great accuracy at the intended target (even a moving one) or another target within the field of view of the seeker when the tactical situation changes. For Excalibur-S, the date of entry into service has not yet been announced; Raytheon is awaiting the launch customer to complete the concept of operations to begin the qualification testing process.

Raytheon used the Excalibur experience to develop a 127 mm guided munition for naval guns, designated Excalibur N5 (Naval 5-Marine, 5 inches [or 127 mm]), which used 70% of the technology of the 155 mm projectile and 100% its navigation and guidance systems. According to Raytheon, the new projectile will more than triple the range of the Mk45 naval gun. The company also said that its testing "enabled Raytheon to obtain the data needed to advance to firing tests of controlled flight in the near future."

The MS-SGP (Multi Service-Standard Guided Projectile) projectile from BAE Systems is part of a joint program aimed at providing ship and ground artillery with extended-range guided artillery ammunition. The new 5-inch (127 mm) caliber projectile in the ground version will be sub-caliber, with a detachable tray. When creating the guidance system, we used the experience of developing a 155-mm LRLAP projectile (Long Range Land Attack Projectile - an extended range projectile for ground artillery), intended for firing from BAE Systems Advanced Gun System naval guns mounted on Zumwalt-class destroyers.

The guidance system is based on inertial systems and GPS, the communication channel allows you to retarget the projectile in flight (the flight time for 70 km is three minutes 15 seconds). The MS-SGP jet engine was tested; the projectile performed a controlled flight when fired from a Mk 45 naval gun, reaching a target located 36 km away, at an angle of 86° and with an error of only 1.5 meters. BAE Systems is ready to produce test projectiles for ground platforms; the difficulty here is to check the correct functioning of the breech with a projectile 1.5 meters long and weighing 50 kg (16.3 of them are high-explosive fragmentation).

According to BAE Systems, accuracy and angle of incidence largely compensate for the reduced lethality of the sub-caliber projectile, which also results in a reduction in indirect losses. Another major challenge for upcoming testing is to determine the reliability of the holding device used to secure the front and rear handlebars in the folded state until the projectile leaves the muzzle. It must be said that such a problem naturally does not exist for ship guns. The projectile's impact angle, which can reach 90° compared to the typical 62° for ballistic projectiles, allows the MS-SGP to be used in "urban canyons" to engage relatively small targets that have previously required more expensive weapon systems to neutralize.

BAE Systems reports the cost of the projectile to be significantly less than $45,000. She is collecting additional test data that would clarify the maximum ranges of the MS-SGP guided projectile. A recently published test report states that the maximum range is 85 km when fired from a 39 caliber gun with a modular MAC 4 charge and 100 km with a MAC 5 charge (which increases to 120 km when fired from a 52 caliber long gun). As for the ship version, it has a range of 100 km when fired from a 62 caliber gun (Mk 45 Mod 4) and 80 km from a 54 caliber gun (Mk45 Mod 2).

According to BAE Systems and the US Army, 20 rounds of MS-SGP guided ammunition at a target with an area of ​​400x600 meters can have the same impact as 300 conventional 155mm shells. In addition, MS-SGP will reduce the number of artillery battalions by one third. The phased program provides for further enhancement of the capabilities of the MS-SGP projectile. For this purpose, it is planned to install an inexpensive optical/infrared seeker so that it can destroy moving targets. The US Navy plans to begin a procurement program for the 127mm guided projectile in 2016, with the Army scheduled to begin the process at a later date.

155 mm Vulcano projectile from Oto Melara. When fired from a 155 mm/52 gun, the extended range variant will have a firing range of 50 km, and the guided version will have a range of 80 km

The MS-SGP guided projectile is a 127 mm ship-borne ammunition with a detachable sabot that can also be fired from 155 mm howitzers and reach a range of 120 km when fired from a 52 caliber gun

In order to increase the range and accuracy of land and ship guns, Oto Melara developed the Vulcano family of ammunition. In accordance with an agreement signed in 2012 between Germany and Italy, the program for these ammunition is currently being carried out jointly with the German company Diehl Defense. While development of a 127 mm caliber and later a 76 mm caliber projectile was carried out for naval guns, for ground platforms they settled on a 155 mm caliber.

At the last stage of development there are three variants of the 155-mm Vulcano projectile: unguided ammunition BER (Ballistic Extended Range), guided GLR (Guided Long Range) with INS/GPS guidance at the final part of the trajectory, and a third version with semi-active laser guidance (a version with a seeker in the far infrared region of the spectrum is also being developed, but only for naval artillery). The control compartment with four rudders is located in the bow of the projectile.

Increasing the range while maintaining internal ballistics, chamber pressure and barrel length means improved external ballistics and, as a result, reduced aerodynamic drag. The body of a 155 mm artillery shell has a diameter to length ratio of approximately 1:4.7. For the Vulcano sub-caliber projectile this ratio is approximately 1:10.

In order to reduce aerodynamic drag and sensitivity to side winds, a design with tail rudders was adopted. The only disadvantage inherited from pallets is that they require a relatively wide safety zone in front of the gun. Vulcano BER is equipped with a specially designed fuse, which for a 127 mm caliber projectile has four modes: impact, remote, time and air detonation.

For the 155 mm version of the ammunition, a remote fuse is not provided. In air blast mode, the microwave sensor allows you to measure the distance to the ground, initiating the blast circuit in accordance with the programmed altitude. The fuse is programmed using the induction method; if the weapon is not equipped with a built-in programming system, then a portable programming device can be used. Programming is also used in impact and time modes, as for the second mode, a delay can be set here in order to optimize the impact of the projectile at the final part of the trajectory.

As a safety measure and to avoid unexploded shells upon impact, the remote fuse will always operate. Vulcano projectiles with INS/GPS guidance unit have a fuze that is very similar to the fuze of the 155mm BER variant, but slightly different in shape. As for the Vulcano shells with a semi-active laser/infrared seeker, they are, of course, equipped with an impact fuse only. Based on experience with these fuses, Oto Melara has developed a new fuze 4AP (4 Action Plus) for installation in full-caliber 76 mm, 127 mm and 155 mm ammunition, which has the four modes described above. The 4AP fuse is in the final stages of development; qualification tests were completed in the first half of 2015.

Oto Melara expects the first deliveries of serial products in autumn 2015. Vulcano ammunition has a warhead equipped with a low-sensitive explosive with a notch on the body to produce a certain number of tungsten fragments of different sizes. This, along with the optimal fuse mode programmed in accordance with the target, guarantees lethality, which, according to the Oto Melara company, is two times better than that of traditional ammunition, even taking into account the smaller size of the warhead of the sub-caliber projectile.

Extended-range sub-caliber version of the Oto Melara Vulcano ammunition, whose production should begin at the end of 2015

A variant of the Vulcano ammunition with a semi-active laser was developed by Oto Melara together with the German Diehl Defense, which was responsible for the development of the laser system

The unguided BER projectile flies along a ballistic trajectory and, when fired from a 52-caliber cannon, can fly to a distance of up to 50 km. The GLR Vulcano projectile is programmed using a command device (portable or integrated into the system). Once a shot is fired, its thermally activated battery and receiver are turned on and the projectile is initialized with pre-programmed data. After passing the highest point of the trajectory, the navigation-inertial system in the middle section of the trajectory directs the projectile to the target.

In the case of ammunition with laser semi-active homing, its seeker receives a coded laser beam at the final part of the trajectory. The inertial/GPS version of the GLR can fly 80 km when fired from a 52-caliber barrel and 55 km when fired from a 39-caliber barrel; the semi-active laser/GPS/inertial-guided version has a slightly shorter range due to the aerodynamic shape of its seeker.

The 155 mm Vulcano ammunition was chosen by the Italian and German armies for their PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. Firing demonstrations carried out in July 2013 in South Africa showed that the unguided BER variant had a CEP (circular probable deviation) from the target of 2x2 meters in within 20 meters, while the version with GPS/SAL (semi-active laser) hit the same shield at a range of 33 km.

A comprehensive testing program began in January 2015 and will run until mid-2016, when the qualification process is completed. Testing is carried out jointly by Germany and Italy at their shooting ranges, as well as in South Africa. The Oto Melara company, while remaining the lead contractor in the Vulcano program, wants to begin supplying the first shells to the Italian army at the end of 2016-beginning of 2017. Other countries also showed interest in the Vulcano program, especially the United States, which became interested in shells for naval guns.

With the acquisition of ammunition manufacturers Mecar (Belgium) and Simmel Difesa (Italy) in the spring of 2014, the French company Nexter is now capable of covering 80% of all types of ammunition, from medium to large caliber, direct fire and indirect fire. The Nexter Munitions division is responsible for the direction of 155-mm ammunition, whose portfolio includes one existing guided munition and one under development.

The first of them is the armor-piercing Bonus MkII with two 6.5 kg self-aiming combat elements with an infrared seeker. After separation, these two combat elements descend at a speed of 45 m/s, rotating at a speed of 15 revolutions per minute, while each of them scans 32,000 square meters. meters of the earth's surface. When a target is detected at the ideal height, an impact core is formed above it, which pierces the vehicle’s armor from above. Bonus Mk II is in service with France, Sweden and Norway, and Finland recently bought a small number of such shells. In addition, its compatibility with the Polish Krab self-propelled howitzer has already been demonstrated.

In collaboration with TDA, Nexter is currently conducting a preliminary feasibility study on a laser-guided projectile with a CEP of less than one meter. The 155-mm projectile received the designation MPM (Metric Precision Munition - ammunition with meter accuracy); it will be equipped with a strapdown laser semi-active seeker, bow rudders and an optional mid-course navigation system. Without the latter, the range will be limited to 28 km instead of 40 km.

The projectile, less than one meter in length, will be compatible with the 39 and 52 calibers described in the Joint Memorandum on Ballistics. The MPM demonstration program was completed as planned in 2013; the development phase was then supposed to begin, but was delayed until 2018. However, the French General Directorate of Armaments allocated funds to continue work on GPS-based navigation, thus confirming the need for MPM ammunition.

The Nexter Bonus ammunition is equipped with two combat elements designed to destroy heavy armored vehicles from above. Adopted by France and some Scandinavian countries

Nexter and TDA are working on a high-precision 155-mm Metric Precision Munition projectile, which, as the name implies, should provide a CEP of less than a meter

The Tula-based Russian company KBP has been working on laser-guided artillery ammunition since the late 70s. In the mid-80s, the Soviet army adopted a guided missile with a range of 20 km, which is capable of hitting targets moving at a speed of 36 km/h with a hit probability of 70-80%. The 152 mm 2K25 projectile, 1305 mm long, weighs 50 kg, the high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighs 20.5 kg and the explosive material 6.4 kg. In the middle part of the trajectory, inertial guidance directs the projectile to the target area, where the semi-active laser seeker is activated.

A 155 mm variant of the Krasnopol KM-1 (or K155) with very similar physical parameters is also offered. This ammunition requires not only a target designator, but also a set of radio equipment and synchronization means; target designation is activated at a distance of 7 km from stationary targets and 5 km from moving targets.

Several years ago, KBP developed a 155-mm version of the Krasnopol ammunition, equipped with a French semi-active laser seeker

An updated 155 mm version of the KM-2 (or K155M) was developed for export. The new projectile is slightly shorter and heavier, 1200 mm and 54.3 kg, respectively, equipped with a warhead weighing 26.5 kg and explosives weighing 11 kg. The maximum range is 25 km, the probability of hitting a moving tank has increased to 80-90%. The Krasnopol weapons complex includes the Malachite automatic fire control station, which includes a laser target designator. The Chinese company Norinco has developed its own version of the Krasnopol ammunition.

...precision guidance kits...

The Alliant Techsystems Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) has been field-tested. In the summer of 2013, about 1,300 such kits were delivered to the American contingent stationed in Afghanistan. The first export contract was not long in coming; Australia requested over 4,000 sets, and in 2014 another 2,000 systems. PGK has its own power source, it is screwed onto an artillery shell instead of a native fuse, the kit works as an impact or remote fuse.

The length of the high-precision guidance head is 68.6 mm, which is longer than that of the MOFA (Multi-Option Fuze, Artillery) multi-purpose fuze and therefore the PGK is not compatible with all projectiles. Let's start from the bottom, first comes the MOFA adapter, then the M762 safety-cocking device, then the thread on which the PGK kit is screwed, the first part on the outside is the GPS receiver (SAASM - a noise-immune module with selective availability), then four rudders and at the very end remote fuse detonation sensor.

The gun crew screws the PGK onto the body, leaving the casing in place as it also acts as an interface to the fuze installer. The Epiafs (Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter) is the same as Raytheon's Excalibur and comes with an integration kit that allows it to be integrated into a fire control system or DAGR Enhanced GPS Receiver . The installer is located above the nose of the PGK, this allows you to connect power and enter all the necessary data, such as gun and target location, trajectory information, GPS cryptographic keys, GPS information, exact time and data for setting the fuze. Before loading and sending, the casing is removed.

The kit includes only one moving part, a block of bow rudders that rotate around the longitudinal axis; The guide surfaces of the steering wheels have a certain bevel. The steering wheel unit is connected to a generator; its rotation generates electrical energy and excites the battery. Next, the system receives a GPS signal, navigation is established and 2-D guidance begins, while GPS coordinates are compared with the specified ballistic trajectory of the projectile.

The flight of the projectile is adjusted by slowing down the rotation of the control surfaces, which begin to create lift; signals coming from the guidance unit rotate the block of bow rudders in such a way as to orient the lift vector and accelerate or slow down the fall of the projectile, guidance of which continues until impact with the required CEP of 50 meters. If a projectile loses a GPS signal or leaves the trajectory as a result of a strong gust of wind, the automation turns off the PGK and makes it inert, which can significantly reduce indirect losses.

ATK has developed the final version of the PGK, which can be mounted on the new M795 round with low-sensitivity explosive. This option passed the first sample acceptance tests at the Yuma test site in January 2015; The projectile was fired from M109A6 Paladin and M777A2 howitzers. It easily passed the 30-meter CEP test, but most of the shells fell within 10 meters of the target.

Currently, the initial production of a small batch of the PGK kit has been approved, and the company is awaiting a contract for mass production. In order to expand the customer base, the PGK kit was installed in German artillery shells and in October 2014 was fired from a German PzH 2000 howitzer with a 52-caliber barrel. Some shells were fired in MRSI mode (simultaneous impact of several shells; the angle of the barrel changes and all shells fired over a certain time interval arrive at the target simultaneously); many fell five meters from the target, which is significantly less than the predicted CEP.

BAE Systems is developing its own Silver Bullet guidance kit for 155mm ammunition, which is based on GPS signals. The kit is a device that screws into the bow with four rotating bow rudders. After the shot, immediately after leaving the barrel, the supply of electricity begins to the guidance unit, then during the first five seconds the warhead is stabilized, and at the ninth second navigation is activated to adjust the trajectory all the way to the target.

The stated accuracy is less than 20 meters, however, BAE Systems' target is a QUO of 10 meters. The kit can be used in other types of projectiles, for example, active-reactive ones, as well as with bottom gas generators, which increases accuracy at long distances. The Silver Bullet kit is at the development stage of a technological prototype, its demonstration has already been carried out, after which preparations have begun for the next stage - qualification tests. BAE Systems hopes that the kit will be fully ready in two years.

The Norinco GP155B laser-guided ammunition is based on the Russian Krasnopol projectile and has a range of 6 to 25 km

ATK's Precision Guidance Kit fits two different types of ammunition, a 105mm artillery shell (left) and a 120mm mortar shell (right)

The photo clearly shows the elongated shape of the rear of the PGK precision guidance system, which is only compatible with shells that have a deep fuse socket

The Spacido course correction system, developed by the French company Nexter, cannot be called a pure guidance system, although it significantly reduces range dispersion, which is usually much greater than side dispersion. The system was developed in cooperation with Junghans T2M. The Spacido is installed in place of the fuse as it has its own fuse.

When mounted on high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, the Spacido is equipped with a multi-mode fuze with four modes: preset time, impact, delay, remote. When mounted on a cluster munition, the Spacido fuze operates only in preset time mode. After the shot, a tracking radar installed on the weapon platform tracks the projectile for the first 8-10 seconds of flight, determines the projectile's speed and sends a radio frequency coded signal to the Spacido system. This signal contains the time after which the three Spacido disks begin to rotate, thereby ensuring that the projectile arrives exactly (or almost exactly) at the target.

Spacido course correction system from Nexter

Raytheon's Epiafs Fuze Installer allows programming of a variety of temporary fuzes, such as the M762/M762A1, M767/M767A1 and M782 Multi Option Fuze, as well as the PGK Guidance Kit and M982 Excalibur Guided Projectile

The system is currently in the final stages of development, and Nexter has finally found a shooting range in Sweden to conduct tests with the longest possible ranges (in Europe it is very difficult to find a shooting range with a long-range directrix). It is planned to complete qualification tests there by the end of the year.

Some time ago, the Serbian company Yugoimport developed a very similar system, but its development was stopped pending funding from the Serbian Ministry of Defense.

...and traditional ammunition

New developments affected not only guided munitions. The Norwegian Army and the Norwegian Logistics Agency have awarded Nammo a contract to develop a completely new family of 155mm low-sensitivity ammunition. High Explosive-Extended Range projectile developed exclusively by Nammo. Before loading, either a bottom gas generator or a bottom recess can be installed in it, respectively, when firing from a 52 caliber barrel, the range is 40 or 30 km.

The warhead is equipped with 10 kg of cast insensitive explosive MCX6100 IM produced by Chemring Nobel, and the fragments are optimized to destroy vehicles with homogeneous armor 10 mm thick. The Norwegian Army plans to obtain a projectile that would have at least some of the same effects as the currently banned cluster munition submunitions. The projectile is currently undergoing the qualification process, the initial batch is expected in mid-2016, and the first production deliveries at the end of the same year.

The Spacido system, developed by Nexter, can significantly reduce range dispersion, which is one of the main causes of inaccuracy in artillery fire.

BAE Systems is developing the Silver Bullet precision guidance kit, which will be available in two years

The second product is a long-range illuminating projectile (Illuminating-Extended Range), developed jointly with BAE Systems Bofors. In fact, two types of projectile are being developed using Mira technology, one with white light (in the visible spectrum), and the second with infrared illumination. The projectile opens at an altitude of 350-400 meters (less problems with clouds and wind), instantly flares up and burns with constant intensity, at the end of the combustion there is a sharp cutoff. The burn time of the white light variant is 60 seconds, while the low burn rate of the infrared composition allows you to illuminate the area for 90 seconds. These two projectiles are very similar in ballistics.

Qualification should be completed in July 2017, and production deliveries are expected in July 2018. The smoke projectile, also being developed with the participation of BAE Systems, will appear six months later. It contains three containers filled with red phosphorus, and Nammo is looking to replace it with a more effective substance. After leaving the projectile body, the containers deploy six petal brakes, which have several functions: they limit the speed at which they hit the ground, act as air brakes, ensure that the burning surface always remains on top, and finally ensure that the container does not penetrate deep into the ground. snow, and this is important for northern countries.

Last but not least in the line is the Training Practice-Extended Range projectile; it has the timing of the HE-ER high-explosive fragmentation projectile and is being developed in unguided and sighting configurations. The new family of ammunition is qualified for firing from the M109A3 howitzer, but the company plans to also fire it from the Swedish Archer self-propelled gun. Nammo is also in talks with Finland about the possibility of firing the 155 K98 howitzer and hopes to test its shells with the PzH 2000 howitzer.

The Nammo company has developed a whole family of 155-mm insensitive ammunition specifically for 52-caliber guns, which will appear in the army in 2016-2018

Rheinmetall Denel is close to delivering the first production batch of its low-sensitivity M0121 high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, which it intends to deliver in 2015 to an unnamed NATO country. The same customer will then receive an upgraded version of the M0121, which will feature a deep fuze socket, allowing the installation of trajectory-corrected fuzes or ATK's PGK kit, which is longer than standard fuzes.

According to Rheimetall, the Assegai family of ammunition, expected to qualify in 2017, will be the first family of 155mm ammunition that is specifically designed for 52-caliber guns to be qualified to the NATO standard. This family includes the following types of projectiles: high-explosive fragmentation, illumination in the visible and infrared spectra, smoke with red phosphorus; they all have the same ballistic characteristics and interchangeable bottom gas generator and tapered tail section.