Future Artillery Conference: Germany details future acquisitions
Nowadays the German artillery fields three effectors: the Tampella 120 mm smoothbore mortar, which dates from the late 1960s, and is either towed by the Wolf, the G-Wagen based 4×4, or installed on legacy M113 tracked vehicles; the PzH 2000 155/52 mm self-propelled tracked howitzer; and the MLRS multiple rocket launcher (MARS-II in the German Army). While the former needs replacement, the two latter systems will receive a Mid-Life Update, which will be mostly aimed at improving electronics and software, and replacing obsolescence.
“Currently our Army fields artillery units only at Brigade level,” Col. Schmidt said, while in the future we are looking at having a divisional artillery element.
Range is obviously an issue; the speaker showed a slide correlating calibre and dispersion, and underlining that maximum accuracy with a standard shell of 155 mm calibre is obtained at 15 km range, the higher the calibre the lesser the dispersion at longer ranges. It is however not the intention of the Bundeswehr to go for a bigger calibre. “To reach 70 km with a 155 mm gun and obtain high precision you need to have a sub-calibre shell, a small ammo payload and a guidance kit, as it has been done in the Vulcano round. Its top charge can be used in the PzH 2000 remaining within the approved limits of operation,” he states. The achievable ranges will be the lowest value of the requirements, but according to the German officer covering ranges from 3 to 100 km would require modification to the weapon system as well as a new modular propellant charge system. “This will raise the cost of such an ammunition family, bringing it not far away from that of a rocket,” Col. Schmidt underlined. The latter allows reaching a long distance in an easiest way, as the acceleration time is not limited by the length of the barrel. He mentioned that the industry is carrying out a research on a 60 calibre 155 mm barrel; “we support it through a Research and Technology study, but the timeframe and the budget does not allow a parallel development,” hence it will not be possible to use such cannon on the wheeled medium range system. No comment were made on the European Common Indirect Fires System programme.
The German industry is already at work to fulfil Bundeswehr requirements; according to the latest information available, Rheinmetall should propose a system based on its new HX3 truck, unveiled recently, while Krauss-Maffei Wegmann developed years ago a Boxer-based solution, that is probably being adapted to new requirements. “Both will feature an unmanned autonomous turret. The solution based on the Boxer has a higher protection level, while the truck-based solution provides a better visibility for the crew. Another difference will be in the life-cycle cost. All these aspects will be evaluated in a competition,” Col. Schmidt said. EDR On-Line understood that an RfP should be issued in 2022.
According to Col. Schmidt the Bundeswehr aims at acquiring 120 new wheeled medium-range howitzers.
Divisional Artillery will also be strengthened by further 30 multiple-launch rocket systems, that will add to the 38MLRS tracked systems currently in service. “Here too we are looking for a wheeled system, and we will start working on the long range issue in two years time,” Col. Schmidt told the Defence IQ Future Artillery Conference audience. No details were therefore provided in terms of type of launcher and munitions.
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