Raytheon Begins Development of New Ramjet-Powered Artillery Round

Raytheon Missiles & Defense has begun the development of XM1155 Extended-Range ramjet-powered artillery projectile for the US Army.

The first phase of developing the XM1155 commenced under a $7.9 million U.S. Army other transaction agreement (OTA) through the Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, the company announced on May 11.

The XM1155 will be fired from the same artillery cannon as Excalibur, including the U.S. Army’s new 58-caliber Extended-Range Cannon Artillery. The new, cannon-launched, ramjet-powered artillery round will double the U.S. military’s range to greater than 100 kilometers, delivering precision strikes in all terrain and weather conditions, Raytheon claims.

Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO), an organization based in the Netherlands, is tasked with designing the ramjet engine. Raytheon will integrate the engine with the system’s airframe, seeker, warhead and other components.

The tactical 155mm XM1155 will be able to strike moving and stationary targets on land and at sea. The maneuverable, extended-range airframe will be compatible with legacy and future 155mm artillery systems.

The XM1155 builds on Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s experience with guided projectiles, including the Excalibur munition, an extended-range weapon that can engage targets precisely at all ranges.

This effort was sponsored by the U.S. government under the DoD Ordnance Technology Consortium OTA (W15QKN-18-9-1008) with the National Armaments Consortium.