U.S. Army tests long-range artillery shells with rocket engine

A US defense contractor has field tested a tactical engine to increase the range of artillery shells.

Despite the existence of missile UAVs andlaser weapons, artillery still remains the basis of support for ground troops. The main disadvantage of its guns is the relatively short range of destruction, due to the ballistic trajectory of the projectile after leaving the barrel.

To solve this problem, the US Army ordered Northrop Grumman to develop a special solid fueldirect air-jet engine.

Engineered version of the Solid Fuel ramjetRamJet not only increases the flight range, but also improves the flight characteristics of the projectile, preventing it from slowing down due to air resistance. In addition, SFRJ allows you to correct its movement in flight, increasing accuracy, as well as the effectiveness of hitting a moving target.

The first tests were carried out on long-range115mm artillery shells. Tests have confirmed that the technology significantly expands the range of American field artillery on any terrain and in difficult weather conditions.

The U.S. Army Research Unit is also working on a prototype of a strategic artillery gun with a range of up to 1,850 km.

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