The new Raytheon [RTN] Excalibur S precision-guided munition successfully made direct hits on moving targets in a U.S. Navy test, the company said Wednesday.
The test occurred at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.
Raytheon said this testing validated the Excalibur S projectile’s ability to survive the stress and shock of a howitzer firing and transition from GPS to laser guidance to hit a moving target.
Excalibur S uses the GPS technology of the Excalibur Increment B (Ib) variant and adds a semi-active laser seeker to hit mobile land and maritime targets at comparable ranges.
Raytheon said Excalibur impacts at a radial miss distance of under two meters from the target and has been fired more than 1,400 times in combat.
The company noted existing Ib projectiles can be upgraded to Excalibur S. The Army and Navy both use the Excalibur Increment B projectiles.
“Using artillery to engage moving targets gives soldiers more flexibility. Artillery is typically used to hit stationary objects, but Excalibur S expands the capability of artillery on the battlefield,” ” Sam Deneke, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president, said in a statement.