A Boeing and Nammo team set a record for longest indirect fire test of a ramjet-powered artillery projectile. The U.S. Army fired a Ramjet 155 munition from a 58-caliber Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. The test advances development efforts for the Army’s top modernisation priority, Long Range Precision Fires.
“Our objective was to demonstrate the ability to safely operate from the ERCA system and validate our performance. Both objectives were met.” said Gil Griffin, executive director of Boeing Phantom Works. “The team is working to deliver a superior, affordable precision strike weapon that can neutralise critical targets at long distances.”
The success follows last year’s Boeing-Nammo test recording the longest-ever indirect fire test of a Ramjet 155 munition. That test was completed using a 39-caliber towed artillery cannon at the Andøya Test Center in Norway.
“This program now has a thoroughly tested propulsion system that guarantees enormous range increases for all artillery cannons,” said Morten Brandtzæg, Nammo CEO. “We believe the major development hurdles have now been cleared and production is viable within a relatively short timeframe.”
The Boeing-Nammo solution is being developed under the Army’s XM1155 program. Considered a powered guided artillery munition, Ramjet 155 utilises an air-breathing engine design that uses the cannon firing to provide the speed needed for combustion.
In an upcoming test, Boeing and Nammo will integrate a precision guidance system, leveraging a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) mission computer onto the Ramjet 155. The demonstration will evaluate the system’s maturity and effectiveness against stationary and moving targets, and readiness to transition into the next phase of development.
“Our successful tests demonstrate that ramjet projectiles — a real collaborative achievement of Boeing and Nammo — offer the range and precision desired by the Army,” said Brandtzæg. “Ramjet technology heralds a revolution in artillery, significantly extending range and delivering strategic advantages to our users.”
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The decision to cancel the second tranche of Huntsman self propelled howitzer’s and accompanying armoured resupply vehicles is looking sillier and sillier everyday. Here’s hoping a future government will reverse this decision while the assembly lines are still active.
i’m sorry they didn’t get the German unit, although the South Korean gun is supposedly excellent
If the Geelong factory is busy with Redbacks, why not use the Qld Rheinmettal factory to produce German RCH155 guns on the Boxer chassis?
https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/land/12856-automated-artillery-achieves-world-first-fire-while-moving-capability
The new factory being built by Hanwha Defence Australia will have the capacity to build both. However Rhinemetall’s Skyranger self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built on the Boxer chassis would be a strong contender for anti-drone/cRAM capability suspiciously absent in the DSR.
I’m astonished by the ADF’s lack of anti-drone capability. Our classic formations would be wiped out in hours judging by what is happening in Ukraine and Azerbaijan.