BOTHELL, Wash., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A tactical version of the 81mm roll-control guided mortar round has been tested by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and the U.S. Army.
The company, a unit of General Dynamics and BAE Systems, said 16 rounds were fired at distances ranging from about 980-4,000 yards and the average target miss distance was less than 7 yards.
"Our partnership with BAE Systems has resulted in the near flawless development and demonstration of an 81mm precision mortar," said Daniel Paul, vice president and general manager of Precision Systems for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. "This success is the result of a great team.
"The telemetry and high-speed video coverage from the tests demonstrate, without a question, the maturity and capability of our 81mm RCGM. We are now in a position to offer the U.S., U.K. and other allies an affordable guided 81mm precision mortar capability in the very near term."
The tactical configuration of the RCGM used the current UK L41 high-explosive mortar round and a six-increment propulsion charge system from BAE Systems. Its General Dynamics guidance package includes a GPS receiver.
The round has multi-option fuse components and the company's roll-controlled fixed canard control system.
The tests were conducted at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.
