Indranil wrote:
*AFAIK, the PGKs came much after the Excalibur and ate significantly into its market. Am I wrong there?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7088&p=2364954#p2364954ramana wrote:brar_w, Lets cut to the chase what target are you talking about?
Bunker or some such point target?
Recall an open pit target cab be taken out by ~10m-15 m CEP of PGK.
Though I don’t claim to know exactly what the IA has in mind given that the requirement originated as a rapid purchase/need from the operators, it doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to come up with a list of target sets for which one would need
-better accuracy,
- better danger close performance (2m CEP including <4 m at objective max range which it has bettered at >60 km range),
-a SAL seeker,
-higher jam-resistance,
-shaped trajectory or
-accuracy at extended ranges (already demonstrated 60+ km shots with 70km possible in the very short term (may even be demo’d within the next 6-12 months))
It essentially allows artillery guns to fill in for GMLRS like, or rotary winged delivered APKWS like capability for several situations and missions (including CAS) up to 40.5 km (39 cal), 50 km (50 cal) or 62.5 km (58 cal with demonstrations at 70 km with modifications likely). A deployed artillery unit with mixed munitions can therefore severely complicate the adversaries calculus by being able to adapt and respond to a myriad of tactical situations with a suitable response and without requiring a lot of logistical support (low single digit rounds per target to even one shot one kill with seeker).
I’ll try to put together a more comprehensive list of targets the US Army prefer to use it over PGK later but here is a snippet on the most recent upgrade and what it enables -
With the EST upgrade, the 1b projectile can now perform off-axis shots, or reverse slope engagements over tall terrain features for hidden or obscured targets, including performing vertical u-turn manoeuvres to engage the target from behind. According to Daniels, the Excalibur EST allows the commander to engage a particular side of a targeted building, or defeat a target hidden under bridges or motorway overpasses. ~ Janes
Also, with a proper warhead (Excalibur now has a ready multi-effects warhead that I believe has been demonstrated to the US Army or is soon to be demonstrated) and a sub 5m CEP with a sub 10 m TLE, you are looking at considerable first volley effects against armored targets which is a pretty significant mismatch when comparing to what the other guy may field.