UK artillery technology live firing, Defence Photography

04 | 03 | 15

UK artillery technology live firing

We recently attended a British Army artillery exercise on behalf of a sub-system technology provider.  The troops used principally the BAE Systems AS90 but also used the MLRS and 105mm Light Gun. The AS90 is a 155mm self-propelled gun that equips six field regiments of the British Army's Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery.

According to the British Army, the BAE Systems AS90 is fitted with a 155mm, 39 or 52-calibre gun barrel. An automated loading system enables the gun to fire with a burst rate of three rounds in fewer than ten seconds, an intense rate of six rounds a minute for three minutes and a sustained rate of two rounds a minute. The range is 24.7km using conventional ammunition. The AS90 also fires assisted rounds, which provide an extended range to 30km. Fitting a 52-calibre barrel instead of the standard 39 calibre extends the range beyond 40km.