The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract to Tiberius Aerospace for the development of a liquid-fueled, ramjet-powered 155mm precision-guided artillery shell. Designed for long-range engagement, the new munition will be able to strike targets at distances of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) with a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 5 meters. This level of accuracy marks a major leap forward compared to conventional artillery rounds.
By contrast, the U.S. Army’s widely used 155mm M982 Excalibur round has a maximum range of around 40 kilometers. Efforts are underway in the United States to extend that capability to at least 70 kilometers when fired from 52-caliber barrels. Conventional artillery shells, meanwhile, typically have a CEP of about 100 meters, making the Tiberius munition’s sub-5-meter accuracy a significant advancement.
The round’s ramjet propulsion system will allow it to achieve speeds up to Mach 3.5 and climb beyond 65,000 feet, placing it outside the reach of most jamming and interception systems. To ensure performance in GPS-denied environments, the shell uses a dual-navigation system combining GPS with an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Advanced AI-driven algorithms correct errors, enabling consistent accuracy even without satellite signals.
Furthermore, the design allows multiple rounds to communicate in flight, refining trajectories and synchronizing strikes for greater battlefield effectiveness. This cooperative capability could transform long-range artillery into a precision strike tool rivaling missile systems.
