Background

BAE Systems

"The Vulcano family of precision-guided, gun-launched munitions offers U.S. and allied military forces a range of low-risk, cost effective capabilities for advanced, large caliber weapon systems.

BAE Systems and Leonardo have come together to offer a low-risk, precision-guided solution that is more affordable and higher performing than current alternatives.

Offering significantly greater range and precision, the Vulcano is compatible with the majority of land and naval platforms including 155mm and 5-inch (127mm) gun systems to defeat land and sea threats. The Vulcano family capitalizes on new and emerging technology based on a fin-stabilized airframe with canard control for extended range and terminal guidance, with mechanical interfaces that are the same as standard ammunition.

As the original equipment manufacturer of major gun systems such as the Mk 51 Advanced Gun System, the Mk 45 naval gun and the M777 and M109 howitzers, BAE Systems is best suited to integrate Vulcano into these weapons. Similarly, the latest adaptations of Vulcano are compatible with the majority of in-service artillery systems including Leonardo’s 127/64 LW and 127/54C naval guns."

Leonardo

"'VULCANO' is a family of unguided (BER) and guided (GLR) ammunition for the 76mm, 127mm naval guns and 155mm land artillery systems.

The VULCANO 155mm ammunition gives the 155/52 caliber and 155/39 caliber Howitzers the capability to extend their operative range and precision beyond the actual limits, minimizing engagement costs and collateral damages.

VULCANO 155mm projectile is a sub-caliber, fin stabilized airframe, compatible with the use of standard modular charges, with no need of additional propulsion; it is loaded with Insensitive Explosive and Patented tungsten rings; the mechanical interfaces are the same as in standard 155mm ammunition.

VULCANO 155mm available rounds are:

-Ballistic Extended Range (BER) unguided multi-role ammunition with multi function (Altimetric, Impact, Delayed Impact, Time, Self-Destruction) programmable fuze;
-Guided Long Range (GLR) with canard control actuated by IMU + GPS guidance system for navigation (gliding trajectory )and possibility of terminal guidance (pull down) with optional Semi-Active-Laser (SAL).
-A Mission Planning Module allows exchanging data with the Fire Direction Centre for the management of the Firing Mission."

Federation

The Vulcano Precision-Guided Munition is utilized by the Federation to give Destroyer commanders more choices and flexibility for their choice of weapons systems. Able to boost the standard Mk 45 naval gun to ranges in excess of 90km and the 155mm naval guns to excess of 120km. Built with a highly aerodynamic shape with added canards, the rounds generate lift along the trajectory of the flight. No changes are required to be made to the guns to utilize the Vulcano.

Controls

Movement

-Throttle Starts Rotation of fins

Weapons

-None