BAE Systems Unveils 155mm Artillery Cannon to Defeat Drones and Strike Ground Targets at Extended Range.

BAE Systems unveiled its new Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS), a truck-mounted 155mm artillery weapon designed to intercept aerial threats with guided Hypervelocity Projectiles (HVP) while striking ground targets at extended ranges. Mounted on an Oshkosh FMTV-family military truck, MDACS combines an unmanned turret, automated ammunition loading, and precision-guided projectiles to provide U.S. Army forces with a mobile weapon designed for both air defense and conventional artillery missions.

BAE Systems’ Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS), displayed at AUSA 2026 in Washington, D.C., combines a truck-mounted 155mm cannon with precision-guided ammunition designed for air defense and extended-range strikes against ground targets. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The MDACS (Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System) is intended to address the growing threat posed by drones, cruise missiles, and long-range ground weapons. Its dual-role design could let U.S. Army formations strengthen air defense while retaining the ability to engage enemy ground forces beyond the range of conventional 155mm artillery ammunition.

The Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System departs from traditional self-propelled howitzer designs. Whereas conventional 155mm artillery weapons primarily deliver indirect fire against ground targets, MDACS is being developed to conduct both offensive and defensive engagements using specialized precision-guided projectiles. This approach could let artillery units contribute directly to air defense without sacrificing their ground-fire support role.

Related Topic: BAE Systems MDACS Signals Return of 155mm Artillery as New Shield Against Drone and Cruise Missile Saturation

One of MDACS's principal capabilities is its use of the Hypervelocity Projectile, a precision-guided munition developed for high-speed engagements. Unlike conventional artillery shells that follow largely ballistic trajectories, the HVP (Hypervelocity Projectile) incorporates guidance and aerodynamic characteristics designed to support engagements against demanding aerial targets. Its integration with MDACS could provide a kinetic interception option against selected unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, and other airborne threats, depending on the performance of the complete detection, tracking, and fire-control system.

Using guided artillery projectiles for air defense could have important implications for U.S. Army ammunition expenditure and defensive sustainability. Modern military formations face an increasing challenge from inexpensive drones and massed aerial attacks that can rapidly deplete costly interceptor missile inventories. By employing cannon-launched guided ammunition, MDACS could provide an additional engagement option while preserving specialized surface-to-air missiles for higher-priority threats.

Beyond air defense, MDACS is designed to fire the Scorpio-XR precision-guided projectile against fixed and moving ground targets. Derived from the Hypervelocity Projectile technology family, Scorpio-XR is intended to significantly extend the reach of 155mm artillery. According to BAE Systems, the munition is designed to achieve twice the range of existing 155mm cannon-launched projectiles, potentially allowing U.S. Army artillery units to attack targets from substantially greater standoff distances.

Extended-range precision fires would offer operational advantages in contested environments where opposing forces employ counter-battery radars, loitering munitions, and long-range artillery. By engaging targets from greater distances, MDACS-equipped units could reduce their exposure to certain enemy weapons while expanding the area they can influence. Guided ammunition that can strike moving targets could also improve effectiveness against mobile military vehicles and time-sensitive targets, provided accurate targeting information remains available throughout the engagement.

The combination of HVP and Scorpio-XR is central to the system's multi-domain concept. Rather than relying on separate artillery and air defense vehicles for every mission, BAE Systems is developing a single 155mm weapon capable of employing different guided projectiles according to the threat. This flexibility could prove valuable for dispersed Army formations required to counter aerial attacks and support ground operations while operating with limited logistical resources.

Presented at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exhibition in Washington, D.C., in October 2026, MDACS is installed on a three-axle Oshkosh Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) chassis. Its large unmanned artillery turret is positioned at the rear, while a distinctive split cab provides a central opening to accommodate the cannon barrel during transport. A hydraulically raised barrel support and three stabilizers help secure the weapon during movement and firing.

The unmanned turret incorporates a fully mechanized ammunition-loading system to reduce manual handling and support automated firing. BAE Systems also describes MDACS as air-transportable, potentially allowing rapid deployment and repositioning across dispersed operational areas. The company has not disclosed detailed crew arrangements or onboard ammunition capacity.

Achieving the system's intended dual-role capability will require more than compatibility with different guided projectiles. Engaging aerial targets demands rapid detection, continuous tracking, accurate firing solutions, and responsive gun control. MDACS would therefore need appropriate sensors and battle-management connectivity to contribute effectively to an integrated air defense network.

The wheeled FMTV configuration emphasizes tactical mobility and deployment flexibility. Compared with heavy tracked self-propelled howitzers, a truck-mounted cannon may offer advantages in strategic transport and road movement, while its stabilizers and specialized barrel arrangement address the engineering challenges of integrating a large-caliber weapon onto a wheeled vehicle.

However, testing and evaluation are still needed to establish the operational performance of MDACS. BAE Systems has not disclosed confirmed figures for maximum engagement range, sustained firing rate, onboard ammunition capacity, or demonstrated interception effectiveness in the information provided at the unveiling. The claimed extended-range performance of Scorpio-XR and the intended air defense capability of HVP should therefore be distinguished from independently verified operational results.

For the U.S. Army, MDACS illustrates a potential evolution of 155mm artillery from a predominantly ground-attack weapon into a more flexible offensive and defensive system. If testing validates its ability to intercept aerial threats and deliver extended-range precision fires, MDACS could strengthen protection for maneuver formations while expanding their capacity to engage enemy forces at greater distances. Its development reflects the growing importance of combining air defense, precision firepower, and mobility in high-intensity combat environments.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.