The US Army has awarded a series of contracts under its Extended Range Artillery Projectile (ERAP) program to accelerate the development of a new generation of 155mm artillery ammunition capable of delivering significantly greater range and battlefield effectiveness.
Under the initiative, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), General Atomics, and BAE Systems have been selected to develop advanced projectiles compatible with both 39-caliber and 52-caliber artillery systems currently in service. The program, launched in 2024, is focused on sourcing solutions from manufacturers based in the United States and Canada.
The ERAP effort aims to achieve initial operational capability by fiscal year 2030, with low-rate initial production scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2029. The Army plans to procure at least 300 projectiles during the initial production phase.
As part of the competition, GD-OTS has been awarded a contract worth $37.86 million for a precision-guided munition derived from the Vulcano 155 Guided Long Range projectile. Developed jointly by Leonardo and Diehl Defence, the Vulcano family is designed to engage both stationary and moving targets at extended ranges. Already operational with the armed forces of Germany and Italy, the projectile can strike targets at distances of up to 70 kilometres using advanced aerodynamic design, GPS guidance, and a semi-active laser seeker. A maritime-focused variant equipped with a far-infrared seeker is also available, and both versions are designed to operate effectively in GPS-contested environments.
General Atomics secured a $24.84 million contract for the development of its Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile, an advanced winged and guided 155mm round intended to provide missile-like precision even when satellite navigation signals are disrupted. The munition can alter its trajectory in flight and is expected to engage targets beyond 120 kilometres, significantly exceeding the range of the current M982 Excalibur precision-guided projectile.
Meanwhile, BAE Systems Land & Armaments received an $81.43 million contract to conduct demonstration and qualification activities for its Scorpio-XR extended-range artillery projectile. Designed as a low-drag precision munition, Scorpio-XR is intended to strike targets at ranges exceeding 70 kilometres while reducing time-to-target and maintaining effectiveness against both fixed and moving threats in highly contested operational environments.
