M982 Excalibur: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are already using the precision-guided 155-mm projectiles

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are using the M982 Excalibur extended-range guided projectiles against the invaders.

The video released online by the Ukrainian servicemen shows proof of that.

A short video captures a shot from a 155-mm M777A2 howitzer and the characteristic containers in which these shells are stored.

The presence of M982 Excalibur containers in the frame was first noticed by the Ukraine Weapons Tracker OSINT researcher.

#Ukraine: One of the earliest visual confirmations of ?? M982 Excalibur 155mm guided extended-range projectiles in use with the Ukrainian army – here we can see a Ukrainian M777A2 firing at least 3 of them recently.

The projectiles can be IDed by the very distinctive case. pic.twitter.com/69x95zXduS

— ?? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) September 3, 2022

In August, the American POLITICO reported the intention of the United States to transfer these precision-guided munitions to Ukraine.

Militarnyi mentioned the 1,000 precision-guided munitions, which the Pentagon intended to transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in July. However, back then, it probably regarded not the M982 Excalibur but the M1156 PGK (Precision Guidance Kit).

Back in April, Canadian media reported that the Canadian government could provide the Ukrainians with a certain number of M982 Excalibur extended-range GPS-guided shells left over after the Afghanistan campaign.

The M982 Excalibur is a 155-mm extended-range guided artillery shell. The Excalibur was developed and manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense and BAE Systems AB.

Excalibur is guided through the GPS and can hit targets located up to 60 km away. In December 2020, during the tests, the US Army successfully hit the target at a distance of 70 km. The missile’s weight is 44 kg, and the weight of the warhead is 22 kg.

Experience in Iraq has demonstrated the high accuracy and effectiveness of these weapons – 92% of hits were with an error of less than 4 meters.

There are also versions of “smart” ammunition capable of hitting moving targets.

Depending on the modification, the cost of the shell can reach over $200,000.