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Online Show Daily News and Web TV
DSEI 2015 International Defence & Security equipment Exhibition and Conference 15 - 18 September 2015 London, United Kingdom |
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BAE Systems Inc. Advertorial - DSEI 2015
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| M777 155mm Lightweight Howitzer: Speed, Agility & Precision – A Gun for the 21st Century | |||
| Defending land borders in strategic geographical mountain regionsand coastlines is a large challenge, where the toughest and harshestterrain is inaccessible by conventional artillery. Lightweight artillery with effective heavy firepower is required to defend these regions. The BAE Systems M777 155mm Lightweight Howitzer was specially designed for rapid tactical deployment around inaccessible mountainous regions and is an effective lightweight 155mm system with proven heavyweight firepower in operational scenarios. | |||
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 BAE Systems M777 155mm Lightweight Howitzer |
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While an artillery system might be used for indirect fire support for the mechanized and armour brigades, there remains two different and defined areas of deployment that tactically dictate operational requirements and capabilities. Those deployments could take place in remote jungles or mountainous areas where insurgents feel they can gain an advantage due to these conditions. The most important elements of a responsive force must be speed,flexibility and effective artillery firepower.
The M777 was specifically designed for fast strategic deployment. It can be easily transported by plane, especially when compared with other towed guns that cannot be transported by a C130 or equivalent. It can be also transported and deployed by amphibious boats and unloaded on a beach, or transported by ship and dropped ashore with a helicopter. The M777 was originally designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps. The U.S. Army subsequently adopted it. The M777 weighs approximately 4.3 tonnes, whereas traditional alternatives range from 10-18 tonnes. The heavier guns requiretowing vehiclesof around 14 tonnes, which have limited mobility in inhospitable terrain like soft sands and harsh deserts. |
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 M777 Under an MV-22 / M777 towed by the Supacat vehicle |
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The M777 can be towed with a range of vehicles. Its superior ground clearance provides an ‘all terrain’ capability due tothe M777’s light weight, superior ground clearance and advanced hydrostrut suspension. The gun is towed from a towing eye located under the muzzle brake and can be easily towed with a prime mover of 4 - 5 tonnes. It can be towed by much lighter vehicles where terrain permits. The U.S. military tows the M777 with the 5 tonne M900 truck, the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) vehicles at speeds of 88kph on primary roads, 56kph on secondary roads and 24kph cross-country.For moving the M777 locally around the gun position or further, smaller vehicles such as the All-Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP) ‘Supacat’ 6x6 is ideal.
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 The M777 has the firepower essential in today’s theatre of operations |
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Effective Firepower
The M777 has the firepower essential in today’s theatre of operations.The M777 achieves an intense rate of fire without recourse to powered shell or charge loading.Instead, the M777 uses a shell loading tray powered by recoil energy. Using this approach,the M777 has a demonstrated rate of fire in excess of four rounds per minute for two minutes in firemissions up to 900mils elevation. With a well-trained gun detachment, rates of fire of up to fiverounds per minute have been recorded.The M777 can fire with an on-carriage traverse capability of 400mils left and right ofcentre through the full elevation range. The howitzer has an elevation range of -46milsto +1275mils. The M777 is capable of firing at all angles of traverse and elevation without anyspecial preparation, such as the need to dig recoil pits. Adopting a low trunnion height, the M777, when depressed into direct fire defensive mode,exhibits a very low silhouette that is difficult to detect and engage. The M777’s light weight negatesthe need for an AuxilleryPower Unit (APU) and, consequently,the M777 is able to emplace and await fire orders with littleor no heat and noise signature. The U.S. Marine Corps has declared the M777 exhibits a 70%increase in weapon survivability over its M198 predecessor in combat due toits speed ofoperation and unique features.The M777 uses a modified M284 cannon. This cannon provides 155mm Joint BallisticsMemorandum of Understanding (JBMoU) ballistic commonality with all 155mm NATOstandard ammunition. In addition to its ability to fire standard ammunition, the M777 is fully capable of firing the new M982 Excalibur precision strike round more than 37km and the 5” MS-SGP (MultiService-Standard Guided Projectile) in excess of 100km. Alternative52 calibre guns, which theoretically have advantages due to extended range (40Km instead of 30Km), have proven ineffective, with evidence they are rarely used at maximum range due to severe limitations in the technology associated with munitions and safety.It is also known that the 52 Calibre guns are not as accurate at longer ranges. Operational experience has proven the M777 is more effective,firing thousands of rounds during operations at maximum ranges. Larger 52 calibreguns lack the required mobilityas they can’t displace from position easily, which limits deployment options. In comparison, the M777 can be transported by helicopter or a small vehicle to distances of at least 100km from base. This allows it to be more effective and reach all parts of the battle field. This was particularly clear in Afghanistan.In nearly 10 years of proven operations the American and Canadian M777s were deployed daily by helicopters to support operations beyond the range of traditional artillery. The heavier larger calibre towed or self-propelled guns had to remain in their location centre of operations because of the threat of IED and road bombs. Similarly, the firepower effect of 155mm guns compared with 105mm guns has reduced the demand for projectiles and therefore reductions in logistics and storage; also an L15 projectile contains 11.3Kg of high explosives, whereas a 105mm shell only has 2.4 Kg. The standardization of 155mm ammunition is providinga common denominator with allies, which will allow significantcost savings in training and logistical support. 155mm ammunition isreplacing 105mm ammunitiondue to the growing investments in 155mm gun technology.In this regard, the M777 is leading the way. |
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 Enigma – 8x8 M777 Variant |
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M777 Enhancements
A number of initiatives are being pursued with the support of M777 users to further improve the performance of the gun system and ensure the weapon is simple and easy to use for the gun crew. New developments are designed to increase fire power, survivability and reduce crew fatigue. TheI-PCCM will replace the current PCCM and is a ruggedized power source that will overcome current temperature and reliability issues, encompassing Digital Fire Control System future expansion requirements. M777 Variant BAE Systems is building on the success of this combat proven franchise programme and exploring a Self-Propelled artillery variant. The concept integrates the proven M777 with the Enigma 8x8 Armoured Modular Fighting Vehicle from Emirates Defense Technology.First unveiled at International Defense Exposition (IDEX) 2015, the concept is catching the attention of military users and vehicle manufacturers worldwide. In the Enigma configuration, the gun is stowed on top of the vehicle. When a firing location is reached, the weapon deploys swiftly to the ground – the barrel facing in the opposite direction to the vehicle. With the gun resting firmly on the ground, the vehicle is protected from recoil forces. The Enigma System is expected to be operated with a reduced crew thanks to increased automation and a system that feeds shells from inside the vehicle out to the gun. The vehicle is projected to have an ammunition stowage capacity of 20 rounds, semi-automatic loading and be able to fire six rounds per minute. It will have the capability to traverse and fire up to 30 degrees either side of the centre-line, to a range exceeding 25km using unassisted rounds and over 30km using assisted rounds.BAE Systems’ M777 is the only 155mm artillery weapon currently on the market that is capable of succeeding in this configuration. |
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 Model of 8x8 Enigma with BAE Systems M777 Howitzer |
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M777 Key Facts
• BAE Systems’ M777, the world’s first 39 calibre 155mm Howitzer weighing less than 10,000 lbs (4,220 kg), which through proven technology and the innovative use of titanium and aluminium alloys, meets the requirement for rapidly deployable, reliable and accurate artillery fire support. • The M777’s light-weight design allows it to be transported by medium lift aircraft and lightweight vehicles over desert and mountainous terrain and can be brought into and out of action before counter battery fire can reach the gun. • With over 1,000 guns built and over 350,000 rounds fired, the M777 has proven pedigree in Middle East and Asian operations with the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and Canadian and Australian artillery. • With the use of High-tech Fire Control, the gun has rapid communications and precision fires. With the use of the Excalibur Precision Munition, 650 of which were fired in Afghanistan, the M777 now has a range of over 40km, accurate within 10metres. • The M777 was designed for long range, accurate and rapid deployment into and out of action before counter battery fire canreach the gun. At nearly half the weight of the existing M198 howitzer, a parallel trial in the United States saw the M198 take 19 minutes to come into action, whereas the M777 took 1.5 minutes. • M777 is an extremely light, agile and stealthy weapon platform, deployable either as a battery or autonomously as a single gun in support of special operations. It is able to enter the battle earlier than any other comparable towed artillery system to deliver quick and decisive firepower through precision strike, interdiction, general and close support. • Underpinned by a long term Life Cycle Sustainment Contract, the M777 System is supported world-wide, with many critical spares being delivered by BAE Systems to its users within days. • From initial concept to the present day, the M777155mm lightweight howitzer has gone through more than 20 yearsof design, development and extensive testing in order to be the highest performing artillery system in service today. |
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