LIGHTWEIGHT 155mm (LW155) SYSTEM PERFORMANCE …

1 1 LIGHTWEIGHT 155mm ( lw155 ) SYSTEM PERFORMANCE (TBD) Overview The lw 155 will replace all US Marine Corps(USMC) cannon systems and be used as a direct support US Army (Army) will use the SYSTEM as a general supportweapon in the light forces and as a direct support weapon for theLight Cavalry Regiment replacing all of the M198 155mm Overview This SYSTEM specification describes theconfiguration of the LIGHTWEIGHT 155 ( lw 155 ) formerly known asthe Advanced Towed Cannon SYSTEM (ATCAS). This specification isused to describe the PERFORMANCE requirements of the lw 155 andcontains the operational and interface criteria for the services require the SYSTEM to have the capability to acceptthe Pre-planned Product Improvements (P3I) listed in appendix Aof this specification .

2 The Army requires that a number of theP3I be on their production SYSTEM ; while, the USMC may procurethem, as a separate action, to be added to their Security Classification (TBD) APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS The following documents form a part ofthis specification to the extent specified herein. In the eventof conflict between the documents referenced herein and thecontent of this specification , the content of this specificationshall be considered a superseding Specifications and Mandatory2 QPL-46168-27 Coating, Aliphatic Polyurethane, ChemicalAgent ResistantMIL-STD-209(H)Slinging and Tiedown Provisions for Liftingand Tying DownMIL-STD-810 EEnvironmental Test Methods and GuidanceATPD 2131 FMTV PERFORMANCE SpecificationAPTD 2185 MTVR PERFORMANCE SpecificationMIL-STD-171(E) Finishing of Metal and Wood SurfacesMIL-STD-130(H)US Military Property, Identification MarkingMIL-STD-1366(C)Transportability CriteriaMIL-STD-1472(D)

3 Human Engineering Design Criteria for MilitarySystemsMIL-STD-1791(2)Designing for Internal Aerial Delivery inFixed Wing AircraftQPL-P-C-437 Cleaning Compounds. High Pressure Steam DrawingsInterface Drawings for 155mm Ammunition, Quadrilateral MOU# OtherMIL-HDBK-784 Guidelines/Designs to Minimize Contaminationand to Facilitate Decontamination of MilitaryVehicles and Other EquipmentRAM Rationale Report (RRR), 2 June 95, Us Army TRADOC AdvancedTowed Cannon SYSTEM (ATCAS) Reliability andMaintainability Requirements3 ANSI Specifications and Standards DrawingsAmerican Association of Railroads (AAR) Clearance DiagramGabarit Internationale de Chargement (GIC) Clearance SYSTEM SYSTEM Description The lw 155 will provide close and deepfire support and interdiction fires.

4 It will be lightweightwithout sacrificing range, stability, accuracy or SYSTEM is designed as a howitzer, prime mover and associatedequipment. The SYSTEM shall be deployable to any region andshall operate in most climatic conditions. The US Marine Corpswill use the weapon as a direct support weapon, replacing allexisting cannon systems. The US Army will use the lw 155 as ageneral support weapon in the light forces and as a directsupport weapon for the Light Cavalry Regiment, replacing the M198155mm towed Functional Mission The lw 155 shall shoot, move and communicate inaccordance with the combat intensity levels and mission profilesspecified in the lw 155 Design Reference Mission Profile (section2 of the ATCAS RRR).

5 Threat Army light forces artillery and USMC artillerycan expect to face threat forces from light, guerrilla forces tomassed mechanized formations in combat across the operationalcontinuum from operations other than war (OOTW) to war. Threatcannon systems will range from antiquated to modern long rangeself-propelled and towed systems. Many cannon systems will rivalor exceed western systems in range, rate of fire and artillery (cannon, rocket and missile) and aircraft willbe able to deliver a full range of ordnance, including4conventional, Improved Conventional Munitions (ICM), Dual PurposeImproved Conventional Munitions (DPICM), smoke, fuel airexplosives (FAE), electronic countermeasures (ECM), scatterablemines, guided, and homing submunitions.

6 A small number ofcountries will be able to employ nuclear, chemical and biologicalweapons. Maneuver, reconnaissance and unconventional forces willpose the ground force threat. Threat maneuver and artilleryforces will use equipment from a wide range of , armies will become more sophisticated as a result oftechnology proliferation and synchronization of maneuver and firesupport systems. Electronic warfare capabilities will vary byadversary. However, threats to battalion and batterycommunications systems may be effective in disrupting firecontrol and artillery command and control. Reconnaissance andtarget acquisition capabilities will also vary among threatforces.

7 These will range from single round locating radar,modernized sound ranging systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) to reliance on visual acquisition means. Threats to theLW 155 throughout its life cycle will increase as a result oftechnology improvements in target acquisition, munitions anddelivery systems. Improvements in threat force mobility andarmor will directly affect the survivability of light weaponsystems. Current towed systems limited mobility and greaterreaction times make them more susceptible to enemy PERFORMANCE Maximum Range The lw 155 indirect fire maximum rangeshall be at least 30 (threshold) to 40 (objective) kilometerswith rocket-assisted US munitions ( , M549A1) and (threshold) to 30 (objective) kilometers with unassisted USmunitions ( , M795, M825A1 or XM898) with the M203A1propelling Minimum Range The lw 155 high angle indirect fireminimum range firing the M107 projectile and current propellingcharges shall not be greater than 3,700 (threshold) to 2,700(objective)

8 Range Overlap The lw 155 shall be capable of engagingtargets between minimum and maximum range without any Bias & Bias Bias errors cause the offset between the fall-of-shot mean point of impact (MPI) and the target. The goal ofartillery is to center the MPI on the target. The lw 155 shallhave a bias circular error probable (CEP) not exceeding 200meters (threshold) to 50 meters (objective) at 25 is based upon a two hour MET with 20 kilometer spatialseparation from the MET station to the midpoint of thetrajectory, firing the M864 projectile at low angle with themaximum charge, and a target location accuracy of 10 Precision Precision errors cause the fall-of-shotpattern.

9 They are related to the interaction of componenttolerances, such as cannon, fire control, projectile, andpropellant. The lw 155 range precision probable error for lowangle indirect fire shall not be greater than (.3 percent)of range for unassisted projectiles and (.35 percent) ofrange for assisted projectiles. Deflection probable error shallnot exceed one mil at any range in low angle fire and two mils inhigh angle fire for both assisted and unassisted Rate of Maximum Rate of Fire The maximum rate of fire for theLW 155 shall be at least five (threshold) to eight (objective)rounds per minute firing all allowable shell/charge combinations(Copperhead excluded) for not less than two minutes in low anglefire (800 mils or less).

10 Sustained Rate of Fire The sustained rate of fireshall be at least two rounds per minute firing all allowableshell/charge combinations (Copperhead excluded) in low angle fire(800 mils or less) for as long as ammunition is available. As aminimum, this quantity should equal the gun section s basiccombat Emplacement The lw 155 (a single weapon) shall beemplaced and ready to fire (weapon is laid, at least onereference point has been established, one round of ammunition is6ready to be loaded, and communications with the Fire DirectionCenter (FDC) are established) by no more than five crewmenincluding the gunner and four other cannoneers in three(threshold) to two (objective) minutes or less, after the primemover has stopped in Displacement Once emplaced, the lw155 (howitzer,crew, prime mover, and associated equipment)