Posted on 04/28/2022 5:12:38 AM PDT by tlozo
A Deadly Gift
Our neighbors to the north are extending a helping hand to Ukraine, And that hand is designed to reach out and touch someone. Well, the bad guys in particular. Canada has sent four M777 Howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine. This includes Excalibur extended range GPS guided shells.
Ukraine will be receiving these weapons from the 1st Regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery inventory. Canadian Defense Minister Anita confirmed that “a number of M777 howitzers were shipped to Ukraine in cooperation with our American allies.” The shipment included an unspecified amount of 155-mm ammunition. Among other items, Ukraine will be receiving several precision-guided Excalibur rounds left over from the Afghan war.
A Smart Artillery Shell
Excalibur first was fielded in Iraq in 2007 for urban or complex-terrain engagements in which collateral damage must be kept to a minimum. The official name of the shell is the M982 Excalibur. Like the Claymore, this is another US munition named after a sword.
It was designed as a collaborative effort between the US Army Research Lab (ARL) and the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC). The M982 is considered to be a precision munition. It provides improved fire support to the maneuver force commander and increases lethality in addition to reducing undesired damage.
Excalibur uses GPS (global positioning system) and inertial guidance systems to find its target. Part of the beauty of Excalibur is that is capable of being used in close support situations within 75-150 meters of friendly troops or where targets may be too close to civilians to attack with traditional artillery rounds. That, my friends, is danger close.
The projectile’s mission computer uses an Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter to enter the target, platform, and other GPS-specific data. So it’s a little more involved than just pulling a lanyard.
Excalibur uses a jam-resistant internal GPS receiver to update the inertial navigation system. This provides precision in-flight guidance and dramatically improves accuracy to less than two meters miss distance regardless of range. That’s about six feet. Damn.
There are three fuze options available (point-detonation, point-detonation delay, and height-of-burst), and the projectile is employable in any weather condition in any terrain. In addition, due to its extreme accuracy, the weapon often allows for a first-round effect on the target. This negates the need to send multiple rounds downrange.
The initial variant includes a unitary high-explosive warhead capable of penetrating urban structures and is also effective against personnel and light materiel targets. To my knowledge, the Canadians did not specify which variant they had sent to Ukraine.
Less advanced variants than the one shown in the video above can hit targets as far as 25 miles away. As the video shows, the projectiles are fin-stabilized with base bleed technology, extending their range by 20-35%. They are also fitted with canards located at the front of the munition, which creates aerodynamic lift.
“Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.”
This may violate US law.
It will be interesting to see an analysis of this aspect.
How? US is sending howitzers and ammunition also to Ukraine.
'More Howitzers, Artillery Rounds, UAVs Headed to Ukraine'
Included in this package are 72 155 mm howitzers, 144,000 artillery rounds
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3006912/more-howitzers-artillery-rounds-uavs-headed-to-ukraine/
Very very expensive!
There are US laws passed by Congress governing the export of munitions and the limitations imposed upon the countries receiving such munitions.
I am positive that such an act by Canada cannot be implemented without an act of Congress, but I work for a living and am little interested in focusing on a single, dim point of light in a field fraught with more imposing threats to the Constitution.
Canadians are supplying this precision artillery shell
Well there is something we have called Export Control and this kind of transaction can have some sticking points. Also I severely doubt that the quantities sent of this munition are not going to be very high. The US Army and USMC have them and the quantities purchased are not that high. Must be used sparingly. Not a good thing in an intense shooting war.
Sure, but excellent for use in artillery counter-battery fire.
Yeah but you don’t understand the quantities. The US bought quantities are inadequate. This is feel good at best. The XM777 is the better thing they got. Russia has the same type of projectile too.
Its Canadian aid. Not sure if we have an end-user agreement with Canada, regardless the US administration would approve the shipment.
Well its in addition to the 144,000 regular artillery rounds being sent to Ukraine.
Yes it does matter. We send things to other countries with EC stipulations that it does not go to others. That projectile is manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments which is a US subsidiary of a British Company BAE Systems PLC. They have a special security agreement (SSA) with the United States that allows them to business here. This SSA really regulates the export of certain products. Can hurt them big time if not followed.
So where is the evidence this was not shipped with US approval?
I have not seen anything yet. But these legal things are in place and have been so since 1999 when BAE US came online. BAE Systems L&A things come from the US. BAE Systems PLC makes products which are totally different. If there is a issue with this you will hear it soon
Correct!
...such an act by Canada cannot be implemented without an act of Congress...
It does not require an "Act of Congress"
U.S. Arms Sales and Defense Trade
Quote from the above link: "...Before U.S.-origin defense articles and services are exported or transferred to foreign entities, those entities must agree to: 1) not retransfer equipment to third parties without first receiving written U.S. government authorization;..."
That approval would be given by the Secretary of State.
“Range of Fire: 40-65 km, Guidance: GPS guided,”
So we can pinpoint locations of Russian tanks and other assets (hmm, like command posts), give Ukraine the GPS coordinates, and they can drop 155’s on them from over 25 miles away, then skedaddle before the return rounds arrive. Sounds great for a military with air superiority.
I wondered about that but didn't have the time to deep dive and couldn't recall the history of such.
Thanks!
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