Patrick Durrant | Sydney
A Defence spokesperson has confirmed the Department has a watching interest in the development of the Raytheon Excalibur N5 munition, a 5 inch naval variant of the Excalibur 1B round currently in production and used by the Australian Army in the M777 howitzer.
The extended range precision round more than triples the maximum effective range of the Mk-45 5-inch gun – (26 nautical miles instead of the usual eight) and has a combat proven accuracy of less than two metres miss distance.
The army variant of Excalibur has now been fired 827 times in combat by US and allied forces and the N5 uses 100 per cent of its complex guidance and navigation unit, with 70 per cent of the parts re-used and 99 per cent of the software.
Excalibur N5 has three fuse modes: hyper burst, or proximity (ideal against small surface targets); point detonating; and point detonating delay (ideal against bunkers).
Raytheon is also developing seeker technology that will make Excalibur N5 highly lethal against fast moving maritime targets. Reports from the recent SNA2016 National Symposium held in Washington indicate the technology is a Millimetre Wave Radar seeker that will work best in adverse weather conditions against moving targets at sea.
Developed through an internally funded R&D program, Raytheon's successful test in September 2015 at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona demonstrated the maturity of Excalibur N5.
The Defence spokesperson said Navy had identified the need for a for a long range precision guided projectile for use in the maritime and littoral environment.
"In the baseline design for the Sea 4000 Air Warfare Destroyer, this requirement was identified and growth to this capability has been included in the baseline ship design through the selection of the 5”/62 cal Mk.45 Mod.4 gun."
The spokesperson added that Defence would evaluate the viability of any solution offered by industry.