SMArt 155
Encyclopedia
SMArt 155 is a German 155 mm artillery round, designed for a long range, indirect fire
top attack
role against armoured vehicles. The SMArt carrier shell contains two submunitions, which descend over the battlefield on ballute
s and attack hardened targets with explosively formed penetrator
warheads. Built with multiple redundant self-destruct mechanisms, these submunitions were specifically designed to fall outside the category of submunition weapons prohibited by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions
.
The name SMArt 155 is a contraction of its German
name Suchzünder Munition für die Artillerie 155 (meaning "sensor-fused munition for 155mm artillery"). SMArt is manufactured by GIWS mbh (Gesellschaft für Intelligente WirkSysteme mbH), a partnership between German armaments companies Rheinmetall
and Diehl BGT Defence
.
SMArt was first deployed by the Bundeswehr
in 2000, and has been sold to the armies of Switzerland, Greece, Australia, and the UK.
s, including the Paladin variant. It consists of a 47 kilograms (103.6 lb) heavy artillery projectile containing two autonomous, sensor-fused, fire-and-forget
submunitions. The submunitions each contain a high-penetration EFP
warhead for use against even heavy armoured armoured fighting vehicle
s like main battle tank
s. The EFP warhead uses a heavy metal liner.
After the submunition is released it opens a parachute. While slowly descending, the submunition rotates, scanning the area below with an infra-red sensor and a millimeter wave radar.
The sensor system relying on several types of sensors give SMArt 155 the ability to be used in every type of terrain independent of the weather conditions.
laser-guided direct-fire round for the anti-tank role. GIWS formed a partnership with US defence contractor Alliant Techsystems
, hoping to sell SMArt 155 to the United States
armed forces; to date no sale has been made. The US developed the similar M898 SADARM system (which also descended on a ballute to attack the top surfaces of armoured vehicles), but this was discontinued in favour of the GPS
guided M982 Excalibur round.
SMArt 155 is very similar to BAE Systems AB's BONUS-155 system; BONUS descends on a system of winglets rather than a parachute.
- replaced M712 Copperhead
British Army
- entered service as part of the Indirect Fire Precision Attack (IFPA) programme German Army
- known as DM702A1, used with the Panzerhaubitze 2000 Hellenic Army
- also used in combination with the Panzerhaubitze 2000 Swiss Army
GIWS and its partners has also demonstrated SMArt to a number of other armies, including those of the United States, the United Arab Emirates
(for use in their existing G6 howitzer
), Peru, and India.
Indirect fire
Indirect fire means aiming and firing a projectile in a high trajectory without relying on a direct line of sight between the gun and its target, as in the case of direct fire...
top attack
Top attack
A top attack device is designed to attack armoured vehicles from above, as the armour is usually thinnest at the top. Ideally, it will penetrate perpendicular to the attacked surface. The device may be delivered by a missile, artillery shell, or even an emplaced munition...
role against armoured vehicles. The SMArt carrier shell contains two submunitions, which descend over the battlefield on ballute
Ballute
A ballute was invented by Goodyear in 1958. It is a parachute braking device that is optimized for use at high altitudes and high supersonic velocities. The original ballute was a cone-shaped balloon with a toroidal burble fence fitted around its widest point...
s and attack hardened targets with explosively formed penetrator
Explosively Formed Penetrator
An explosively formed penetrator , also known as an explosively formed projectile, a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armour effectively at standoff distances...
warheads. Built with multiple redundant self-destruct mechanisms, these submunitions were specifically designed to fall outside the category of submunition weapons prohibited by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions
Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer and stockpile of cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters submunitions over an area. The convention was adopted on 2008 in Dublin, and was opened for signature on 2008 in Oslo...
.
The name SMArt 155 is a contraction of its German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
name Suchzünder Munition für die Artillerie 155 (meaning "sensor-fused munition for 155mm artillery"). SMArt is manufactured by GIWS mbh (Gesellschaft für Intelligente WirkSysteme mbH), a partnership between German armaments companies Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...
and Diehl BGT Defence
Diehl BGT Defence
Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Ko KG is a German arms manufacturer and a subsidiary of the Diehl Stiftung GmbH with headquarters in Überlingen. Diehl BGT Defence produces mainly missiles and ammunition....
.
SMArt was first deployed by the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
in 2000, and has been sold to the armies of Switzerland, Greece, Australia, and the UK.
Design
SMArt 155 is a 155 mm NATO artillery round designed to be fired from the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the M109 howitzerM109 howitzer
The M109 is an American-made self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It was upgraded a number of times to today's M109A6 Paladin...
s, including the Paladin variant. It consists of a 47 kilograms (103.6 lb) heavy artillery projectile containing two autonomous, sensor-fused, fire-and-forget
Fire-and-forget
Fire-and-forget is a third-generation method of missile guidance. The military uses the term for a type of missile which does not require further guidance after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance , and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the...
submunitions. The submunitions each contain a high-penetration EFP
Explosively Formed Penetrator
An explosively formed penetrator , also known as an explosively formed projectile, a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armour effectively at standoff distances...
warhead for use against even heavy armoured armoured fighting vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
s like main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s. The EFP warhead uses a heavy metal liner.
After the submunition is released it opens a parachute. While slowly descending, the submunition rotates, scanning the area below with an infra-red sensor and a millimeter wave radar.
The sensor system relying on several types of sensors give SMArt 155 the ability to be used in every type of terrain independent of the weather conditions.
Operation
| Phase | Picture | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A SMArt-155 round is fired from a standard rifled 155mm artillery tube. | |
| 2 | The round flies on a parabolic arc, with a range of 27.5 kilometres (17.1 mi) | |
| 3 | Mid-flight a timer fuse ignites a small ejector rocket in the nose, which drags the two submunitions out of the shell casing. | |
| 4 | Once clear of the shell, the submunitions fall toward the target. The shell and the nose assembly fall away. | |
| 5 | The submunitions deploy parachutes, and independently corkscrew down over the subject area, scanning for targets. | |
| 6 | One submunition detects a target vehicle beneath it. It detonates its explosive payload, creating an explosively formed projectile which strikes the target vehicle's weak top armour. The high-velocity impactor penetrates the hull and kills or wounds the crew. |
Competing systems
US artillery largely deploys the M712 CopperheadM712 Copperhead
The M712 Copperhead is a caliber cannon-launched, fin-stabilized, terminally laser guided, explosive projectile intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers or other high-value targets. It may be fired from different artillery pieces, such as the M114, M109 and...
laser-guided direct-fire round for the anti-tank role. GIWS formed a partnership with US defence contractor Alliant Techsystems
Alliant Techsystems
Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
, hoping to sell SMArt 155 to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
armed forces; to date no sale has been made. The US developed the similar M898 SADARM system (which also descended on a ballute to attack the top surfaces of armoured vehicles), but this was discontinued in favour of the GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
guided M982 Excalibur round.
SMArt 155 is very similar to BAE Systems AB's BONUS-155 system; BONUS descends on a system of winglets rather than a parachute.
Operators
Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
- replaced M712 Copperhead
M712 Copperhead
The M712 Copperhead is a caliber cannon-launched, fin-stabilized, terminally laser guided, explosive projectile intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers or other high-value targets. It may be fired from different artillery pieces, such as the M114, M109 and...
British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
- entered service as part of the Indirect Fire Precision Attack (IFPA) programme German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
- known as DM702A1, used with the Panzerhaubitze 2000 Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
- also used in combination with the Panzerhaubitze 2000 Swiss Army
GIWS and its partners has also demonstrated SMArt to a number of other armies, including those of the United States, the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
(for use in their existing G6 howitzer
G6 howitzer
The G6 self-propelled howitzer is a South African artillery piece, developed around the ordnance of the G5 howitzer. It is one of the most powerful self-propelled guns on a wheeled chassis....
), Peru, and India.
External links
- Intelligent ammunition on Diehl's website
- Artillery rounds on Rheimetall-DeTec.de