Ukraine will receive Excalibur precision-guided, extended-range artillery shells for 155-mm howitzers from Canada

Canada will be handing over the M777 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine, including the newest Excalibur extended-range GPS-guided shells.

Militarnyi informs about this with reference to CBS.

The media obtained confirmations from three sources saying that four of the 155-mm howitzers were sent to Ukraine.

For reference, Canada has 37 of these howitzers. Ukraine will be receiving these weapons from the 1st Regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery inventory.

Anita Anand, Defence Minister noted that “a number of M-777 howitzers were shipped to Ukraine in cooperation with our American allies.”

The shipment included an unspecified amount of 155-mm ammunition.

Among other items, Ukraine will be receiving a number of precision-guided Excalibur rounds left over from the Afghan war.

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 up to 60 km away. And in December 2020, during the tests, the US Army successfully hit the target at a distance of 70 km. The weight is 44 kg, and the weight of the warhead is 22 kg.

Experience from 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.