The Army will create new field artillery battalions in its heavy divisions, armed with the new Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) armored howitzer. It’s part of a plan to add new Long-Range Precision Fire weapons at every level of command.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.PrSM is preparing for its first 300-plus-mile flight test this year, while the ERCA cannon and hypersonic LRHW head for key tests in 2023.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Weapons from hypersonics to howitzers have key deadlines to meet next year to keep to the Army’s ambitious timeline, Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood and Brig. Gen. John Rafferty tell Breaking Defense.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Next fall, the Army aims to test a new artificial intelligence for artillery and fire the prototype PrSM missile to its full 300-plus-mile range — once they find a venue that’s big enough.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Meant to target Chinese warships and Russia’s rear bases, the new intermediate-range missile will fill the gap between the 500+ km PrSM and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.The military services are working together on how to use long-range, land-based missiles to destroy enemy anti-aircraft defenses, says the director of artillery modernization at Army Futures Command.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said the two sides would work to identify “how we could co-develop certain capabilities that can help us get the next generation weapons system, but also to be complimentary if necessary for our forces as we deploy.”
By Paul McLearyThe brand new missile seeker can home in on radio and radar, which means it can also target anti-aircraft defenses – blasting a path through them for US airpower.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.This spring’s successful test shots of the Precision Strike Missile and Extended-Range Cannon are just two pieces of a rapidly evolving portfolio of new long-range weapons.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Next year will see the Precision Strike Missile tested at its maximum range of over 300 miles. The base model enters service in 2023, with range and targeting upgrades to follow.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.The Precision Strike Missile’s rocket booster is so powerful that short-range shots actually put more stress on the weapon than letting it loose to fly its full distance, Lockheed told us.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Lockheed’s prototype’s success is a big step towards fielding a new 300-plus-mile missile in 2023.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.