'TopGun' system converts conventional artillery to precision weapons

Geostrategy Direct ^ | 6/20/2010 | Geostrategy Direct

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Israel's state-owned Aerospace Industries has briefed Western and other militaries on its TopGun system, designed to convert 155mm artillery shells into precision-guided weapons. "Using our extensive experience in developing missile systems, we took this technological challenge upon ourselves," Uri Sinai, general manager of IAI's MLM division, said.

Executives said TopGun was comprised of a fuze that corrected the trajectory of artillery shells. The kit contained global positioning and inertial navigation systems as well as four fins fitted to the fuze.

"The accuracy of projectiles equipped with TopGun, which is mounted on the artillery round, is 20 meter CEP [Circular Error Probable], regardless of range — unlike any other round," IAI said.

In contrast, guided rockets were meant to reach a CEP of 10 meters. Israeli defense companies have also developed guided kits for artillery rockets.

Executives said IAI planned to display TopGun at France's Eurosatory, scheduled from June 14-18 outside Paris. They said IAI plans to brief NATO and other defense officials on the capabilities and affordability of the system.

TopGun could be installed without significant changes in artillery operations, executives said. They said the system would allow the use of artillery in a range of missions, including those near populated areas.

The Israel Army was already said to have ordered TopGun. The system was ordered in wake of the 2006 war with Hizbullah, when more than 100,000 shells were fired by the Israel Army without any affect on the operations of the Iranian-sponsored force.

"The relatively small size of the fuze required developing cutting-edge miniaturization and ruggedizing technologies, in order to withstand the extreme conditions of artillery fire, including acceleration and spin of artillery rounds," Sinai said.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[ConservativeMind]

So, it’s uncommon that a 155mm round can be more accurate at any distance than to be 10 meters off in any direction from where it was expected to go?

I’d say that’s a pretty inaccurate round.

[ThunderSleeps]

Sounds like ERGMS but as a retrofit (refuse)

[ASA Vet]

Copperhead

[Lysandru]

Better yet, how about Excalibur?

[SeaHawkFan]

A Copperhead round is very expensive and I suspect this new Israeli systems is very inexpensive in relation to the accuracy. A 155mm round with a CEP of 20 meters will do the job in just about every situation outside of targeting a tank. Even then 2-4 rounds would do the job.

The cost-benefit of this new technology is VERY good.

[ASOC]

I'll see you and rasie with a M982 Excalibur round. A As for 'close' - United Defense successfully fired M795 rounds equipped with the CCF from a M109A6 Paladin to ranges of 14.5 kilometers at Yuma Proving Ground. Preliminary analysis from the demonstration confirmed United Defense's laboratory analysis and the projectiles equipped with the CCF achieved a precision error of less than 50 meters - three times more accurate than the control rounds. So it would seem 'ordinary' 155mm arty is right on within 150 meters.... a football pitch or two.

[gaijin]

IAI's TopGun round:

Looks like it's just the fuse portion at the tip.

[rmlew]

So this would be the equivalent of the kits that turns Mk 84 dumb bombs into GBU-15s or for JDAMs?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The article does not mention neither. I would make a guess, it would be the Excalibur shell.

[kimoajax]

Speaking as an old artillery guy, this is a huge development. The amount of old but still good 155 and 105 and other (8 inch & 175) artillery rounds stored and available is huge. These new fuses turn them into valuable modern warfare assets.

Back in 67 while stationed at Fort Irwin California in the middle of the Mohave desert we tested some sort of rocket power assisted 175 rounds. They proved way too inaccurate and unreliable for continued development. You could hear how just prior to reaching their apex the booster pack would kick-in and extend their range by quite a ways. Was never told how much. However, technology has progressed today where those challenges might be easily overcome by the Israel.

Imagine being able to put a 155 round through someones roof at a GPS coordinate up to 100 miles away...and have it be there in under a minute. No planes to launch, just a special ops guy on the ground at night taking and sending in the coordinates. Bata-Bing Bata-Boom.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I have always been a fan of field artillery guns.

[gaijin]

Pretty cool:

They're coming out with similar new fuses for mortar shells, and get THIS: the firing platform will be AIRCRAFT..!

As in AC130, etc.

Hang one, kill one..!

[Vendome]

I wouldn’t want to be within 30 feet of a 155mm round. I might need Bactine and a bandage for an ouwe I might sustain.

It’s not precision munitions but trust me, if you are within the CEM, well you wouldn’t be for long... at least parts of you wouldn’t.

A Howitzer round isn’t going to land in the vicinity of a target all by its lonesome. It is usually accompanied by a volley of two others and they tend to make big holes in the ground and a mess of everthing around it.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Yes, as a former red leg myself, I am duly impressed.