DESCRIPTION
The Army’s artillery ammunition program includes 75 mm (used for ceremonies and simulated firings), 105 mm and 155 mm projectiles and their associated fuzes and propelling charges. Semifixed ammunition for short and intermediate ranges, used in 105 mm Howitzers, is characterized by adjusting the number of multiple propelling charges. 105mm HE M1, cartridge configuration is without a fuze. Semifixed ammunition for long ranges contains either a single bag or multiple propulsion bags obtaining high velocity. The primer is an integral part of the cartridge case, and is located in the base, with the cartridge case. The 105 mm cartridges are issued in a fuzed or unfuzed configuration. Both cartridge configurations are packaged with propellant.
Separate-loading ammunition, used in 155 mm Howitzers, has separately issued projectiles, fuzes, propellant charges and primers. After installing the appropriate fuze on the projectile, the fuzed projectile is loaded into the cannon along with the appropriate amount of propellant charges and a primer.
The artillery ammunition program includes fuzes for cargo-carrying projectiles, such as smoke and illumination, and bursting projectiles, such as High Explosives (HE). This program also includes bag propellant for the 105 mm semifixed cartridges and a modular artillery charge system for 155 mm Howitzers.
The Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) is a GPS guided, course correcting fuze for conventional 155mm High Explosive (HE) projectiles that improves effectiveness and efficiency of cannon artillery. The current PGK production fuze obtained Full Materiel Release in 2015 and is in Full Rate Production.
BENEFIT TO THE SOLDIER
The mission of the Field Artillery is to destroy, defeat or disrupt the enemy with integrated fires to enable maneuver commanders to dominate in unified land operations. Cannon-artillery-delivered munitions are a vital component of this mission.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Insensitive munitions (IM) fill is used in the following HE rounds, making the inventory safer: 105 mm M1; 105 mm M1130; 155 mm M1122; and 155 mm M795
- Projectiles that utilize shell bodies obtained from 155 mm cluster munitions that have been demilitarized, significantly lowering unit cost: M1122, 155 mm IM HE; M1123, 155 mm Infrared Illumination; M1124, 155 mm Visible Light Illumination; and M110A3, 155 mm Spotting Smoke
PROGRAM STATUS
FY16: Full Rate Production (FRP) for 155 mm Joint Extended-Range Illumination Projectiles M1123 and M1124 commences at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas (FMR = Jun 14)
4QFY16:
- Produced and delivered new production M82 primers in support of the Paladin Integrated Management program Initial Operational Test and Evaluation
- Fulfilled U.S. Army Europe REF10 Liner for 155 mm Smoke with the M116A1 Projectile
3QFY17: Achieved Type Classified-Standard (TC-STD) for the Extended-Range Smoke 155 mm White Phosphorus (WP) Smoke Projectile M1121
1QFY18: Achieved Milestone B for the Extended-Range (ER) 155 mm HE Projectile XM1128
1QFY19: New Load, Assemble and Pack Facility at CAAA to support 155 mm M1122 HE Production
PROJECTED ACTIVITIES
4QFY19: Materiel Development Decision (MDD) for HE Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) XM1113
1QFY20: Achieve Full Materiel Release (FMR) for the 155 mm M1121 WP Smoke Projectile; Stand up new mixing/pressing facility at Pine Bluff Arsenal; Commence Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD)/Qualification Testing of XM659 Stub Charge
2QFY20: Introduction of M232A2 MACS into USA inventory
4QFY20: Commence EMD Phase for XM654 Case Supercharge
1QFY21: Achieve Milestone C/TC-STD for the HE ER 155 mm XM1128
3QFY21: Achieve Urgent Materiel Release (UMR) for the HE RAP 155 mm XM1113
1QFY22: Achieve FMR and Full Rate Production (FRP) Decision for HE ER 155 mm XM1128
2QFY22: Achieve Milestone C for the XM659 Stub Charge for ERCA
3QFY22: Achieve Milestone C/TC-STD for the HE RAP 155 mm XM1113
4QFY23: Achieve FMR and FRP Decision for HE RAP 155 mm XM1113