Successful Demonstration of Flight Control Characteristics

Nexter Munitions successfully test-fired its 155mm KATANA smart artillery round in Sweden early last month, the company announced on 19 January.

The rounds, fired from a CAESAR towed gun, demonstrated their flight control capabilities and manoeuvrability, with the canard actuation system deploying exactly as simulations already conducted. Effectively, this confirms the supposition that the shell trajectory will result in a far greater range achievement than traditional 155mm artillery ammunition. The next phase of the test campaign, scheduled for later this year, will include the first coordinate-guided and -controlled firings.

“We are looking to the future with confidence and continue to make exceptional efforts to ensure that this 155mm ammunition – which will be sovereign, intelligent and very accurate – can be marketed as early as 2023,” stated Nexter Group’s Director of Ammunition, Dominique Guillet.