NEW DELHI, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- American defense contractor Raytheon is touting the accuracy of its Excalibur Ib precision-guided artillery shells during an extensive test event in Arizona.
The first article test validates performance and reliability and moves the 155mm projectile closer to full-rate production, the company said.
"Excalibur gives the warfighter a pinpoint precision tool to eliminate enemy threats and is the only combat-proven, 155mm precision-guided projectile in the world today," said Lt. Col. Josh Walsh, U.S. Army Excalibur program manager. "This weapon continues to prove itself in testing but, more importantly, it continues to prove itself on the battlefield."
During the testing at Yuma Proving Grounds, gunners fired Excalibur Ib projectiles from the Paladin and M777 howitzers to various targets at ranges as far as 23.6 miles. The average miss distance for the 30 projectiles was about 5.2 feet.
"These tests and other recent trials clearly demonstrate Excalibur's ability to deliver true precision to any 155mm howitzer and the decisive advantage Excalibur provides the warfighter," said Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Raytheon's Land Warfare Systems product line.
Raytheon made the announcement from India, were it is attending a defense industry exhibition.
