M454 S-HE projectile
Contents
M454 S-HE projectile — guided, terminal homing
The S-HE M454 SPG (Self-Propelled Gun) Guided Projectile, produced by the Israeli company IMI Systems is designed for high-precision engagement of important targets at long range. Thanks to advanced guidance technology and accuracy, it significantly increases the effectiveness of artillery fire.
The new projectile is claimed to be five times more effective against infantry and lightly armored vehicles than a conventional (non-cargo) high-explosive fragmentation projectile of the same caliber.
The new projectile's lethal area is 6,000 m², compared with 1,250 m² for a conventional projectile. True, a cargo projectile is still more effective — 9,000 m².
TAAS claims that using the M454 reduces ammunition consumption, and the associated logistics problems, by 40%.
Technical specifications
Specifications and features:
- Caliber: 155 mm
- Type: Guided (conditionally) artillery projectile
- Guidance system: Semi-active laser guidance (SAL)
- Maximum range: up to 28 km (with 39-caliber guns)
- Accuracy: Circular error probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters
Length (without fuze) – 804 mm;
Mass (without fuze) – 46 kg;
Explosive mass – 3 kg;
Fuze – time fuze, M138, M762 and similar;
- Warhead: contains 3 kg of explosive and more than 7,000 pre-formed fragments
- Effective lethal radius: 75 m
- Warhead: High-explosive fragmentation (HE)
- Application: Suitable for engaging stationary and moving targets, including armored vehicles, fortified positions and important enemy point targets
Usage notes
The larger lethal area is achieved thanks to the projectile's original principle of operation: the M454 is fitted with a time fuze, which must be set before firing.
The aim point is chosen with a significant overshoot of the target. As the projectile passes over the target, the fuze activates the expelling charge and the warhead is ejected from the projectile body. It deploys a drogue parachute, slows down and orients itself perpendicular to the ground.
The warhead detonates above the ground at an optimum height over the target. The main damaging factor of the new projectile is not the blast wave, which is actually smaller than that of conventional projectiles because of the reduced mass of explosive (3 kg in the M454 compared with, for example, 5.74 kg in the M107), but the fragments. The M454 contains several thousand pre-formed tungsten fragments, so it would be more accurate to call this projectile "super-fragmentation".
The M454 projectile is equipped with a self-destruct mechanism in case the air-burst mechanism fails.
Oleh Syrota (Georgich©) for the Armed Forces of Ukraine /
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