Raytheon [RTN] recently said it successfully fired nine Excalibur Ia-1 precision-guided projectiles from a Paladin gun system using a new Atlantic Inertial Systems (AIS) unit July 31 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.
The test validates the increased reliability of the projectile’s new inertial measurement unit (AIS IMU). Using the new IMU, Raytheon achieved a 100 percent success rate.
Raytheon on Aug. 3 resumed production production of the Excalibur Ia-1.The first deliveries are expected next month.
Deliveries of the round were suspended in November, Michelle Lohmeier, deputy of Land Combat Systems at Raytheon Missile Systems, told Defense Daily. The initial IMU used to meet the early fielding requirement was understood at the time to be unable to meet the ultimate reliability needed.
“It was more a design robustness issue, with about a 4 percent failure rate. The new IMU has rectified that problem,” Lohmeier said.
None of the rounds in Iraq or Afghanistan developed under the urgent need statement are experiencing any reliability problems, she said.
“Excalibur Ia-1 is an extraordinarily capable weapon,” Steve Bennett, Raytheon’s Excalibur program director, said in a statement. “In an effort to provide ever-increasing performance and to meet changing operational requirements, we needed an IMU that met Excalibur’s stringent standards.”
Excalibur Ia-1 tests using the new AIS IMU began 10 months ago and have consistently demonstrated increased precision with an average impact distance of less than 2 meters from the target, the company said.
“We look forward to providing the warfighter increased quantities of precision Excalibur rounds,” said Lt. Col. Mike Milner, Army Excalibur product manager. “Soldiers and Marines welcome the continued deliveries as Excalibur is critical to the success of their combat operations.”
Raytheon continues thorough testing of all its Excalibur variants. Excalibur increment Ia-2 testing demonstrated better than 5-meter accuracy.
“We’ve got to start thinking of precision in a whole new way,” said Jim Riley, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Land Combat. “We’re used to thinking in terms of the circular error of probability, but precision is the way of the future. CEP doesn’t limit collateral damage, nor does it keep our warfighters safe. Excalibur’s proven precision is not only effective, it’s essential for the protection of combat forces and civilians.”
Excalibur Ia-1 has a unique guidance logic that acts as a built-in safety feature. The weapon will not arm itself unless the guidance logic determines it will impact the intended target. If the intended target cannot be hit, Excalibur rounds fly to a predetermined safe impact point.