Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s Vulcano Weapon System To Use Rockwell Collins NavFire GPS Tech

[Zarvan]

Our Bureau
07:01 PM, June 13, 2016
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NavStrike military GPS offers high performance GPS for tightly coupled Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) integrations.
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Rockwell Collins has customized its NavFire TM Precision Positioning Service (PPS) GPS to Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s VULCANO family for naval and artillery applications.

Operating weapon systems in a harsh dynamic environment requires rapid start-up and high accuracy to hit the designated target and dramatically reduce the probability of collateral damages. These key elements translate to effective mission completion.

“We have customized the NavFire receivers for the particular caliber of the ammunition, and provided full support to the customer during and after the firing trials,” said Claude Alber, vice president and managing director, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Rockwell Collins. “In the end, our product perfectly matched the demanding performance requirements of our customer.”

Derived from the field-proven 12-channel NavFire Precise Positioning Service GPS receiver, Rockwell Collins’ NavStrike military GPS offers high performance GPS for tightly coupled Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) integrations.

The NavFire GPS includes the Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) to allow decryption of precision GPS observations through over-the-air rekeying. The positioning information is used by the guidance system of the projectile.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/16...ockwell_Collins_NavFire_GPS_Tech#.V18AiiNRXqA

 

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“VULCANO” is a family of unguided (BER) and guided (GLR) ammunition for the 76mm, 127mm naval guns and 155mm land artillery systems.

The VULCANO 155mm ammunition gives the 155/52 caliber and 155/39 caliber Howitzers the capability to extend their operative range and precision beyond the actual limits, minimizing engagement costs and collateral damages.

VULCANO 155mm projectile is a sub-caliber, fin stabilized airframe, compatible with the use of standard modular charges, with no need of additional propulsion; it is loaded with Insensitive Explosive and Patented tungsten rings; the mechanical interfaces are the same as in standard 155mm ammunition.

VULCANO 155mm available rounds are:

• Ballistic Extended Range (BER) unguided multi-role ammunition with multi function (Altimetric, Impact, Delayed Impact, Time, Self-Destruction) programmable fuze;
• Guided Long Range (GLR) with canard control actuated by IMU + GPS guidance system for navigation (gliding trajectory )and possibility of terminal guidance (pull down) with optional Semi-Active-Laser (SAL).

A Mission Planning Module allows exchanging data with the Fire Direction Centre for the management of the Firing Mission.

OTO Melara and Diehl Defence demonstrated the outstanding performances of their new VULCANO Precision Guided Munition family during another live firing campaign – the latest result of a fruitful cooperation between OTO Melara and Diehl Defence starting two years ago. The agreement on large calibre conventional and guided ammunition for navies and armies was signed during Eurosatory 2012.

The firings took place at Alkantpan Proving Ground, South Africa, in May 2014, using a PzH2000 howitzer.

The fired rounds were in their production configuration and achieved the expected results both in the guided (GPS&SAL) and unguided version.
The firings at different ranges proved the good performances of GPS and SAL guidance.

The maximum range was limited to slightly over 50 km for firing range safety limitation.

It is the first time that a PzH2000 fires unguided ballistic rounds at such extended ranges whereas the guided round, if fired at the same elevation, would have achieved ranges of over 80 km with undiminished precision.

As part of this firing campaign with PzH2000, tests were conducted with IR (InfraRed) guidance, demonstrating the capability of target discrimination and tracking. However, IR terminal guidance will only apply to the Vulcano 127mm naval version.

The “Plug and Play” of different sensors for terminal guidance was demonstrated with the same basic IMU/GPS mid course guidance. They are identical for both 155 mm and 127 mm Vulcano ammunition.

The firing tests were followed by Italian and German MOD representatives that expressed their great satisfaction for the trial results, achieved.
The Vulcano program is proceeding fast towards completion allowing low rate initial production in the near future.