I thought I would update the LRAP 155mm round status for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class DDGS.
This projectile finished four cycle live-fire tests in June 2013 and is now in LRIP for the US Navy. A 127mm version has also been developed. Check out its specs:
Warhead Weight: 12 kg (26.2 lbs)
Accuracy: 45m (145 ft) CEP
Max Range: 190 km (118 miles) (Note: 127mm projectile range is 100 km (62 miles))
Guidance: GPS, INS
Now, there has been talk about the PLAN perhaps developing a naval variant of their recently unveiled WS-35 155mm projectile. The WS-35 looks promising, but I am not aware of any 155mm naval gun project currently underway by the PLAN to fire the projectile. As I understand it the only platform at this point that can fire it is the PLZ-05 self propelled howitzer.
Nonetheless, the specs of the PLA WS-35 are pretty nice:
Warhead Weight: 18 kg (39.6 lbs)
Accuracy: 40m (130 ft) CEP
MAx Range: 100 km (62 miles)
Guidance: GNSS, INS
Again, I am not aware of a 155mm naval gun that could fire the WS-35 being developed by the PLAN at this point.
Just for reference sake, the WS-35 bears a strong resemblance to the XM982 155mm Excalibur projectile developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors, which was put in service in 2007, and is now in use with the US Army, Germany, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Australia. The Excalibur does not use rocket assistance like the WS-35 and LRAP, instead uses fins for long range guided glide path flight.
Warhead Weight: 18 kg (39.6 lbs)
Accuracy: 5m (16 ft) CEP
Max Range: 60 km (37 miles)
Guidance: GPS, INS
In February 2012, a US Marine Corps M777 howitzer in Helmand province, Afghanistan, was used to fire a single Excalibur round that killed a group of insurgents at a range of 36 kilometres (22 mi).
In February 2014, the U.S. Army and Raytheon fired 30 Excalibur shells at test targets to confirm the performance and reliability of the configuration before full-rate production of the new 1b round. Projectiles were fired from Paladin and M777 howitzers at ranges from 7 to 38 km (4.3 to 23.6 mi). Each shell hit within an average of 1.6 meters from the target.
BTW, the XM982 Excalibur will also be able to be fired by the Naval AGS.
This projectile finished four cycle live-fire tests in June 2013 and is now in LRIP for the US Navy. A 127mm version has also been developed. Check out its specs:
Warhead Weight: 12 kg (26.2 lbs)
Accuracy: 45m (145 ft) CEP
Max Range: 190 km (118 miles) (Note: 127mm projectile range is 100 km (62 miles))
Guidance: GPS, INS
Now, there has been talk about the PLAN perhaps developing a naval variant of their recently unveiled WS-35 155mm projectile. The WS-35 looks promising, but I am not aware of any 155mm naval gun project currently underway by the PLAN to fire the projectile. As I understand it the only platform at this point that can fire it is the PLZ-05 self propelled howitzer.
Nonetheless, the specs of the PLA WS-35 are pretty nice:
Warhead Weight: 18 kg (39.6 lbs)
Accuracy: 40m (130 ft) CEP
MAx Range: 100 km (62 miles)
Guidance: GNSS, INS
Again, I am not aware of a 155mm naval gun that could fire the WS-35 being developed by the PLAN at this point.
Just for reference sake, the WS-35 bears a strong resemblance to the XM982 155mm Excalibur projectile developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors, which was put in service in 2007, and is now in use with the US Army, Germany, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Australia. The Excalibur does not use rocket assistance like the WS-35 and LRAP, instead uses fins for long range guided glide path flight.
Warhead Weight: 18 kg (39.6 lbs)
Accuracy: 5m (16 ft) CEP
Max Range: 60 km (37 miles)
Guidance: GPS, INS
In February 2012, a US Marine Corps M777 howitzer in Helmand province, Afghanistan, was used to fire a single Excalibur round that killed a group of insurgents at a range of 36 kilometres (22 mi).
In February 2014, the U.S. Army and Raytheon fired 30 Excalibur shells at test targets to confirm the performance and reliability of the configuration before full-rate production of the new 1b round. Projectiles were fired from Paladin and M777 howitzers at ranges from 7 to 38 km (4.3 to 23.6 mi). Each shell hit within an average of 1.6 meters from the target.
BTW, the XM982 Excalibur will also be able to be fired by the Naval AGS.
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