Russia deploys “turtle tank” to counter drones

* Denmark buys 339 tactical guided artillery shells M982A1Excalibur

Denmark is able to obtain 339 M982A1 Excalibur 155mm tactical guided artillery shells, a “low-cost, mass-produced, full-featured model.” The Danish Ministry of Protection has submitted a request for proposal to the US Division of Protection, which has accepted the sale from the Protection Safety Cooperation Company (DSCA), and notified the US Congress of the deal.

M982A1 Excalibur tactical guided artillery shell. Photograph: Military Recognition

The deal is valued at roughly $121 million and consists of 339 M982A1 Excalibur rounds, transportable digital hearth management methods (PEFCS), improved platform integration kits (iPIKs), easy key loaders (SKLs), disassembly kits, and floor hazard zone (SDZ) identification kits. RTX Company, primarily based in Tucson, Arizona, would be the manufacturing contractor for the order.

In keeping with Danish navy consultants, the M982A1 Excalibur tactical guided artillery shell is a extremely efficient weapon, able to attacking distant targets with unbelievable accuracy. Proof of that is that in April 2024, in a take a look at on the US Military’s Yuma Take a look at Vary, the M982A1 Excalibur tactical guided artillery shell hit a goal almost 50km away with a goal deviation vary of lower than 1m. The take a look at used the VIDAR variant of the K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery gun that South Korea produced particularly for Norway. The take a look at demonstrated the accuracy and compatibility of this kind of shell when utilized in many various fuse modes. That is additionally one of many causes resulting in the Danish Ministry of Protection’s resolution to order the M982A1 Excalibur tactical guided artillery shell, particularly when contemplating the power to coordinate with different NATO allies similar to Norway.

The Danish Military has a contemporary artillery power, with a number of artillery methods appropriate with the M982A1 Excalibur tactical guided artillery shell, together with the Caesar 8×8 self-propelled gun. This contemporary system is a key element of the Danish armed forces, able to firing 155mm shells just like the Excalibur with excessive accuracy because of a classy hearth management system, permitting exact focusing on at lengthy distances.

The M982A1 Excalibur tactical guided artillery spherical is roughly 102cm lengthy and 155mm in diameter, appropriate with customary 155mm artillery barrels and simply built-in into current navy arsenals of many nations. Outfitted with superior international positioning system (GPS) and inertial measurement models (IMU), the M982A1 Excalibur makes use of real-time focusing on information to realize the required accuracy.

* Russia deploys “turtle tanks” to counter drones on the battlefield in Ukraine

In keeping with Military Recognition, Russian media lately reported on the looks of recent tanks, known as “Turtle tanks”, on the battlefield in Ukraine. These are armored automobiles that Russia has improved to reinforce its protection towards the specter of drone assaults by the Ukrainian military.

A “turtle tank” utilized by the Russian Military on the battlefield in Ukraine. Photograph: Russian media

The “turtle tank” is recognized by the addition of metallic cages, generally often known as “cope cages,” that cowl the highest of the tank. This construction is designed to stop direct drone assaults on the tank’s prime, which is taken into account a weak level. Nevertheless, these enhancements additionally present many important drawbacks, similar to lowering the tank’s visibility and maneuverability, making it slower and fewer efficient in fight.