General Atomics has successfully test-fired a new precision-guided 155mm artillery round designed to significantly enhance the range and accuracy of conventional tube artillery. The test marks a milestone in the ongoing evolution of long-range precision fires (LRPF) capabilities for U.S. and allied forces.
Breakthrough in Precision-Guided Artillery
The newly tested round is part of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems’ (GA-EMS) effort to develop advanced guided munitions for conventional artillery platforms. According to the company’s press release and corroborated by defense outlets such as Janes and Defense News, the test involved firing from a standard NATO-compatible 155mm howitzer system at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.
The projectile utilizes an integrated guidance system combining GPS/INS navigation with aerodynamic control surfaces to correct its trajectory mid-flight. This allows it to achieve significantly higher accuracy compared to traditional unguided rounds. GA-EMS claims that during testing, the round demonstrated consistent impacts within a 10-meter circular error probable (CEP) at ranges exceeding 70 km—placing it among the longest-reaching guided projectiles in its class.
Technical Features and Design Innovations
While detailed specifications remain limited due to operational security concerns, available information suggests that General Atomics’ round incorporates several key technologies:
- GPS/INS Guidance: Dual-mode navigation ensures resilience against GNSS jamming or spoofing.
- Aerodynamic Control Fins: Deployable canards enable course correction during flight.
- Extended Range Propulsion: Likely uses base bleed or rocket-assist components to reach targets beyond 70 km.
- Modular Warhead Design: Compatible with various payloads including HE-frag or sensor-fused submunitions.
The munition appears conceptually similar to existing systems like BAE Systems’ M982 Excalibur or Diehl/Rheinmetall’s VULCANO GLR but may offer advantages in cost-per-shot or modularity depending on production scale and integration pathways. Notably, General Atomics has not disclosed whether this round is intended for compatibility with autoloaders or fully automated fire control systems such as those on K9 Thunder or Archer SPH platforms.
Tactical Implications for Long-Range Fires
The development aligns closely with U.S. Army modernization priorities under the Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) portfolio—a top priority in Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). While programs like ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) focus on platform-level enhancements (e.g., longer barrels), General Atomics’ approach emphasizes munition-level upgrades compatible with legacy systems.
This could prove especially relevant for allied nations operating older M109 variants or NATO-standard towed howitzers lacking advanced fire control systems. By enabling precision strikes at extended ranges without requiring new platforms, such munitions could offer cost-effective capability boosts across multiple theaters—from Indo-Pacific island chains to Eastern Europe’s open terrain.
Comparison With Existing Precision Rounds
The new GA-EMS round enters a competitive landscape populated by several mature guided artillery solutions:
- M982 Excalibur (Raytheon/BAE): Combat-proven GPS-guided round with ~40 km range; Block Ib variant features semi-active laser guidance option.
- Krasnopol-M2 (Russia): Laser-guided shell used by Russian forces; requires forward observer designation; limited range (~25 km).
- VULCANO GLR (Diehl/Rheinmetall): Extended-range (~70+ km), INS/GPS/Laser guided; compatible with L52 guns like PzH2000.
If General Atomics can deliver comparable accuracy at lower unit costs—or integrate novel warhead types—it may find traction among customers seeking scalable long-range strike options without full platform overhauls. However, questions remain about production readiness, NATO qualification timelines, and export licensing under ITAR frameworks.
Status of Development and Future Plans
The recent test represents an early but promising step toward fielding next-generation guided munitions. According to GA-EMS officials cited by Breaking Defense and Army Recognition, further testing is scheduled throughout FY2025–2026 focusing on environmental survivability, lethality trials against hardened targets, and digital fire control integration trials with U.S. Army software suites such as AFATDS.
No formal procurement contract has been announced yet; however, General Atomics is reportedly engaging with both U.S. Army DEVCOM Armaments Center and international partners regarding potential co-development paths or Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Given rising demand for precision indirect fires—especially following lessons from Ukraine—interest from NATO states is likely if performance claims are validated through independent testing.
Conclusion: A New Player in Smart Artillery?
This latest development signals General Atomics’ intent to expand beyond its traditional unmanned systems portfolio into high-end kinetic effects domains. If successful in scaling production while maintaining affordability and interoperability standards, this guided artillery solution could become a disruptive entrant into the smart munition market currently dominated by Raytheon/BAE Systems products.
The strategic implications are significant: enhanced standoff capability without airpower dependency; reduced logistical burden via fewer rounds per effect; and improved survivability through shoot-and-scoot tactics enabled by first-round hit probability—all critical factors in future peer conflict scenarios where counter-battery threats are omnipresent.
