Hanwha successfully testfires Excalibur artillery projectile from K9 howitzer

Hanwha Aerospace has announced the successful completion of a live-firing test for its K9 self-propelled howitzer using the Raytheon M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided extended range 155mm artillery projectile.

The test took place at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground near the Arizona-California border in April. The primary goal of the test was to demonstrate the K9’s compatibility with the Excalibur projectiles, reaching a target nearly 50 kilometres away using different fuze function modes.

During the trials, it was reported that a projectile fired from the K9, specifically the VIDAR variant used by the Norwegian Army, hit its target with less than one-meter circular error probability (CEP) in Point Detonating mode.

In another instance, the projectile detonated five meters above the target in Height of Burst mode, ensuring effective destruction. This successful test asserts the K9’s capability to operate with sophisticated guided munitions like the Excalibur, which have been in use since 2014.

The achievement highlights the precision and reliability of the K9 and underscores Hanwha Aerospace’s commitment to advancing artillery technology. The integration of the K9 with the Excalibur projectile promises improved accuracy and operational flexibility for military forces, solidifying the K9’s position as a leading self-propelled howitzer in global defence arsenals.

Co-developed by Raytheon and BAE Systems Bofor, the Excalibur projectile, is a precision weapon, impacting at a radial miss distance of less than two meters from the target. Raytheon states that Unlike “near precision” guidance systems, the Excalibur weapon provides accurate first-round effects at all ranges in all weather conditions. This weapon system also extends the reach of .39-caliber artillery to 40 kilometres, .52-caliber artillery to 50 kilometres, and .58-caliber artillery to 70 kilometres.

M982 Excalibur