SNA 2016 Video: Raytheon Developing Millimeter Wave Radar Seeker for Excalibur N5 Projectile

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SNA 2016 Show News - Raytheon Excalibur N5
 
 
 
SNA 2016 Video: Raytheon Developing Millimeter Wave Radar Seeker for Excalibur N5 Projectile
 
By Xavier Vavasseur
Raytheon is currently developing a Millimeter Waver Radar seeker for the Excalibur N5 projectile, Navy Recognition has learned during the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) National Symposium held last week near Washington DC.
     
Raytheon is currently developing a Millimeter Waver Radar seeker for the Excalibur N5 projectile, Navy Recognition has learned during the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) National Symposium held last week near Washington DC.Excalibur N5 full scale model on Raytheon Stand during SNA 2016
     
“We are working on seeker technology that would enable an Anti-Surface Warfare mission set” said Paul Daniels, business development senior manager at Raytheon for the Excalibur weapon system. The first seeker being developed is a laser seeker. The other, newer one, is the Millimeter Waver Radar.

Details are limited but we were explained that the Millimeter Waver Radar seeker would be best in adverse weather, against moving targets at sea, thanks to a fire and forget capability. "This would allow the naval force to address a swarm of enemy fast attack craft and fire very rapidly at these incoming boats" according to Daniels.
     
Video: Paul Daniels of Raytheon briefs us on Excalibur N5 at SNA 2016
     
Raytheon's 127 mm Excalibur N5 is a naval variant of the combat proven 155 mm 1B used by land forces. Both projectiles share the same electronics and software. Excalibur N5 is designed to be fired from the 5-inch Mark 45 naval gun system fitted aboard all US Navy's.

The N5 has three fuze modes:
» Hyper burst (or proximity)
» Point detonating
» Point detonating delay (effective against bunkers)

During SNA 2016, we were shown two videos showing recent tests of Excalibur N5 at Yuma proving ground. The videos (which you can see above) demonstrate the accuracy and lethality of the N5 projectile. The projectiles were tested at 20 nautical miles but this is due to range limitation. Maximum range of N5 is 26 nautical miles. The combination of 8 fins at the back for stabilization and 4 canards at the front provides trajectory and extra range.