Consortium wins artillery system contract

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VERSAILLES, France, June 15 (UPI) -- A French consortium has won the system qualification contract for a system that corrects the trajectory of artillery shells after they are fired.

The system -- the Spacido -- is a stand-alone system that is independent of Global Positioning Systems. Using Doppler radar fitted on artillery, it corrects trajectory in-flight through the use of an air-brake integrated into a multifunction rocket.

The contract was from the French military procurement agency DGA. The consortium receiving the award is comprised of Nexter Munitions, Junghans T2M and Zodiac Data Systems.

France plans to introduce the Spacido system into operational use following the system's qualification in 2014.

"Spacido is compatible with all existing 155mm and 105mm artillery and ammunition," Nexter said.

"Spacido increases firing precision by a factor of five. This drastically reduces the amount of ammunition necessary to process a threat, and at the same time reduces risks of collateral damage and improves efficiency."