WATCH: US Army’s New Lengthy Howitzer Barrel Push Range to 40 Miles

By Tactical-Life

An upgrade to the U.S. Army‘s howitzer fleet, namely the M109A7 Paladin and M777 howitzer, has been a long-time coming. A look at the upgrades, including a lengthy new howitzer barrel, is now here.

Watch the video demonstration above.

155mm Upgrades

Via the Army’s Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) project, the Army has already increased range to 40 miles. Announced in 2016, the project is “charged with developing technology to extend the range of all 155mm artillery.”

The necessity of furthering the howitzer’s range comes from the growing threat in both Russia and China.

The range of Russia’s new Koalitsiya howitzer tops out at 43 miles.

Longer Howitzer Barrel

Increasing range starts with a long barrel, which the howitzers now have.

According to Popular Mechanics:

Longer barrels allow the explosive gasses produced by burning propellant to act longer on the shell, so it gives the barrel at greater velocities. Greater velocity equals greater range. A short-barreled rifle, for example, will have a slower muzzle velocity and shorter range than a rifle with a longer barrel.

The barrel is on display in the video above.

To Infinity and …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life