Laser-Guided Excalibur S Munition Aces Navy Test

The new Excalibur S precision-guided munition is fired from a howitzer. Raytheon Co.

YUMA PROVING GROUND, Ariz. — Raytheon’s new Excalibur S precision-guided munition scored direct hits on moving targets in a U.S. Navy test, the company said in a Feb. 5 release. Testing validated the projectile’s ability to survive the shock and stress of a howitzer firing, then transition from GPS to laser guidance and hit a moving target. 

Excalibur S uses the Excalibur Ib variant’s GPS technology and incorporates a semi-active laser seeker to engage mobile land and maritime targets at comparable ranges. Existing Ib projectiles can be upgraded with Excalibur S capabilities. 

“Using artillery to engage moving targets gives soldiers more flexibility,” said Sam Deneke, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “Artillery is typically used to hit stationary objects, but Excalibur S expands the capability of artillery on the battlefield.” 

Excalibur is a true precision weapon, impacting at a radial miss distance of less than 2 meters from the target. Widely used by U.S. and international artillery forces, Excalibur has been fired more than 1,400 times in combat. 

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