Guided artillery shells (munitions) - M982 Excalibur, 2K25 Krasnopol, Leonardo Vulcano

Guided artillery shells (or munitions) are modern artillery projectiles equipped with an internal guidance system to change their flight direction in mid-air to hit targets with a very high degree of accuracy. Unlike conventional artillery shells, which rely on calculated firing angles and are susceptible to misses due to wind or weather factors, these smart munitions can self-correct their trajectory after being fired from the cannon barrel.

Guidance System Types

Satellite System (GPS/INS): Uses global positioning coordinates to guide the projectile directly to a predetermined stationary target.

Laser Guidance (Semi-Active Laser): Requires a ground operator or drone to "spotlight" the target using a laser beam. The bullet's sensor then tracks the laser reflection, making it highly effective against moving targets.

Self-Sensing Guidance (Infrared/Radar): Equipped with a self-contained seeker to automatically detect the heat signature (infrared) or radar of enemy armored vehicles.

Examples of Popular Guided Artillery Rounds

Some of the most well-known guided artillery munitions used in modern combat include:

M982 Excalibur

M982 Excalibur (United States/Sweden)

Caliber: 155mm.

Guidance System: GPS and Inertial Guidance.

Advantages: Compatible with modern howitzer systems such as the M777 and CAESAR, it boasts extreme accuracy with a radius of error of less than 2 meters.

2K25 Krasnopol

2K25 Krasnopol (Russia)

Caliber: 152mm or 155mm.

Guidance System: Semi-automatic laser.

Advantages: Extremely lethal against moving vehicles such as tanks because the round travels directly to the target's laser beam.

Leonardo Vulcano

Leonardo Vulcano (Italy)

Caliber: 127mm (naval) and 155mm (land artillery).

Guidance System: GPS/INS combined with optional laser guidance.

Advantages: Uses a sub-caliber, sabot-loaded design, allowing it to achieve extremely long ranges (up to 70 km).

Key Advantages in Combat

Logistical Efficiency: Drastically reduces the number of rounds fired; one smart round is often sufficient to replace dozens of conventional rounds.

Reduced Collateral Damage: High accuracy ensures military targets are destroyed without excessive damage to surrounding civilian areas.

Surprise Effect: Capable of destroying high-value enemy targets (such as command posts or radars) with the first shot.

The M109A4BE 155 mm self-propelled Howitzer

 The M109A4BE 155 mm is a 155 mm self-propelled, tracked howitzer field artillery system manufactured in the United States that has been modified and upgraded by Belgium. The "BE" in the name refers to the Belgian Army's standard specifications.

 

Key Features and Technical Improvements

The M109A4BE is an upgrade of previous variants, such as the M109A2/A3. Several crucial technological improvements in this variant include:

Semi-Automatic Loader: Equipped with a mechanical puller that increases the rate of fire to 3 rounds in the first 20 seconds.

NBC Protection: Integrated crew protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.

Mechanical Reliability (RAM): Upgraded turret rotation hydraulics, 180-amp alternator electrical system, and the addition of a 1.2 kW APU.

Technical Specifications

Barrel Caliber: 155 mm / 39 caliber (M185 Barrel).

Firing Range: Effective range of approximately 18.5 km for conventional ammunition and up to 30 km for rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP).

Mobility: Powered by a Detroit Diesel Turbo engine with a maximum highway speed of 64 km/h.

Crew: Operated by 6 personnel (commander, driver, gunner, assistant gunner, and 2 loaders).

This type of artillery is highly effective for providing long-range indirect fire support to destroy enemy defenses and disable enemy armored vehicles on the battlefield.

Development History (Lineage)

The development of this defense equipment went through three important phases from the United States to Belgium:

Origins in the United States: The primary basis of this vehicle is the M109, a tracked self-propelled artillery piece first developed by the United States in the early 1960s to replace the M44 variant. The US then released improved variants, the M109A2 and M109A3, in the 1970s and 1980s, with the longer M185 barrel.

Purchase by Belgium: In 1984–1985, the Belgian government purchased a number of standard M109A2/A3 cannons from the United States to strengthen its army.

Belgian Modernization Program (2007–2008): Entering the mid-2000s, the Belgian military undertook a major modernization of its M109 fleet. This rejuvenation resulted in a special variant codenamed the M109A4BE. Upgrades include the installation of a new electrical system, engine generator (APU), Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) warfare protection, and improvements to the semi-automatic loading mechanism to increase the rate of fire.

Procurement and Use by the Indonesian Army

Along with military reorganization in Western Europe, Belgium decided to retire part of its heavy artillery fleet. Indonesia seized this opportunity to modernize its Field Artillery Corps (Armed).

The Indonesian government (2016) officially agreed to purchase surplus military equipment from the Belgian Army. The total procurement includes 36 M109A4BE cannons, along with several command post vehicles and Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARVs).

Deliveries were carried out in stages by sea to Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta:

Wave I (July 2017): 18 cannons arrived.

Wave II (July 2018): 18 additional cannons and support vehicles arrived.

Upon arrival in Indonesia, all of these cannon units immediately entered the Army's service. These weapons systems were distributed to strengthen the tactical defense strike units, including the 7th Field Artillery Battalion/Biring Galih (Yonarmed 7/155 SPH) under the command of the Jaya Military Command, and the 10th Field Artillery Battalion/Bradjamusti (Yonarmed 10/155 SPH) under the 1st Infantry Division/Kostrad.