XM982型“亚瑟王神剑”实验时爆炸场面

点击欣赏精采视频：美军XM982型“亚瑟王神剑”制导炮弹测试

    原作：Rupert Pengelley，IDR地面技术编辑

    制导炮弹是一种非常有前途的技术范围，但是到现在为止已经交付的相当少。然而，可以看到一个精确交战能力，现在更多的，是关键去维持管式火炮恰当到现代化战场。

    在最近的数年以来，焦点已经在发展一种新一代的较远射程“发射和不管”（fire and forget）精确制导炮兵射弹，并非依靠唯一在第三者引导上。在法国初步概念研究由Giat工业公司承担，在“塘鹅”（Pelican）计划下进入到这种远射程（LR-60公里-最远点）和超远射程（85公里-最远点）制导射弹，已经交叉进入一个多国努力之内。在2004年建立，新的欧洲Impaqt联营企业包括英国航天系统公司（BAE）博福斯分公司、Giat公司、MBDA法国公司、MBDA英国公司和QinetiQ公司。稍后“低成本制导弹药”（Low-Cost Guided Munition，LCGM）示范计划已经被Impaqt包括，现在保持二份合同。

    Impaqt Mk 1和Mk 2两者都被期望使用一种通用的组合惯性导航系统/全球定位系统（INS/GPS）接收系统，在全射程给予10米或更少的一个精度。

    另外的象这样的发展是意大利Vulcano计划。预期的在意大利和西班牙政府之间备忘录（MOU），联合发展和生产Vulcano 155毫米火炮射弹体，在两者它的ER和引导LR型号，在2005年底一直等候签署。

    “亚瑟王神剑”（Excalibur）

    第一种进入操作服役的全球定位系统-制导火炮射弹将会是XM982型“亚瑟王神剑”，预定在2006年3月在一个时间表之下进入战场上的美国火炮单位，已经被加速去符合紧急操作需求。

    “螺旋”（Spiral）1a-1弹药首先计划战场操作在伊拉克服役的“骑士”（Paladin）炮兵连，但是“亚瑟王神剑”将会除此之外与英国航天系统公司（BAE）陆地系统公司联合轻型155毫米榴弹炮相兼容，在2005年美国海军陆战队（USMC）在它的基本的M777型火炮中开始守备。

    美国陆军另外地计划中用于“亚瑟王神剑”发射平台是未来战斗系统NLOS-C。这是一种轻型38倍口径身管采用减少药室容积，限制到火炮模块装药系统（MACS）-4层发射。它的较高药室压力仍然被期望达到一个射程，使用“亚瑟王神剑”达到36公里。

    附原文供对照参考：

Guided artillery projectiles turn the corner

By Rupert Pengelley, IDR Group Technical Editor

Guided artillery ammunition is a technology area that has promised much but so far delivered comparatively little. Nonetheless, possession of a precision engagement capability is seen, now more than ever, to be key to maintaining tube artillery's relevance to the modern battlefield.

Over recent years, the focus has been on the development of a new generation of longer-ranging 'fire and forget' precision-guided artillery projectiles that do not rely solely on third-party guidance. In France the initial concept studies undertaken by Giat Industries into such long-range (LR - 60 km-plus) and very-long-range (85 km-plus) guided artillery projectiles under the Pelican programme have been folded into a multinational effort. Set up in 2004, the new European Impaqt consortium comprises BAE Systems Bofors, Giat, MBDA France, MBDA UK and QinetiQ. The latter's Low-Cost Guided Munition (LCGM) demonstration programme has also been subsumed by Impaqt, which currently holds two contracts.

Impaqt Mk 1 and Mk 2 are both expected to use a common combined inertial navigation system/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) receiver system, giving an accuracy of 10 m or less at all ranges.

Another such development is the Italian Vulcano programme. The anticipated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Italian and Spanish governments on joint development and production of the Vulcano 155 mm artillery projectile, in both its ER and guided LR versions, was still awaiting signature at the end of 2005.

Excalibur

The first of the GPS-guided artillery projectiles to enter operational service will be the XM982 Excalibur, due to take to the field with US artillery units in March 2006 under a schedule that has been accelerated to meet urgent operational requirements.

Spiral 1a-1 rounds are first due to be fielded operationally with Paladin batteries serving in Iraq, but Excalibur will in addition be compatible with the BAE Systems Land Systems Joint Lightweight 155 mm howitzer, which the USMC began fielding in 2005 in its baseline M777 version.

The US Army's other intended firing platform for Excalibur is the Future Combat System NLOS-C. This has a lightweight 38-calibre tube with a reduced chamber volume, which restricts firings to MACS Zone 4. Its higher chamber pressure is nonetheless expected to yield a range of better than 36 km with Excalibur.

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