Artillery surpasses old limits: Revolutionizing range and firepower

Western barrel artillery currently has a range of about 30-40 kilometres. Special shells can extend the range slightly further, but the latest developments by weapon designers will allow artillery shells to destroy targets at distances of 100 kilometres and beyond. We are witnessing an artillery revolution, and the "god of war" is becoming increasingly powerful.

Centuries ago, artillery was called the "final argument of kings" (Latin ultima ratio regum). This inscription – sometimes in a slightly altered form – used to adorn the cannons of the kings of France and Prussia, although the role of artillery on the battlefield was much smaller hundreds of years ago than it is today.

Today, it's no wonder that artillery is called the "god of war." The fighting in Ukraine shows that artillery fire is responsible – depending on the source – for 60-80 percent of casualties in people and equipment. Artillery decides the fate of battles and campaigns.

The confrontation between Western and Russian artillery shows that the West – despite only slightly larger calibres of its most common howitzers (155 mm vs. 152 mm in Russian equipment) – has developed and deployed weapons that shoot significantly farther than their Russian counterparts.

The most commonly used Russian 152 mm self-propelled guns, like the 2S3 Akatsiya, have a firing range of 20-21 kilometres. The turretless 2S5 Giatsint artillery system fires at about 27 kilometres, and the 2S19 Msta at 24-29 kilometres. Systems with a greater range, comparable to Western artillery, such as the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV, which completed state trials in 2023, are currently very few in number.

Western 155 mm self-propelled guns with 52-calibre barrels, such as the Krab, PzH 2000, AS90, FH77BW Archer, and Caesar, can fire at distances of up to around 30 kilometres. This value can be increased to about 40 kilometres using shells with a base bleed.

This is not an additional propulsion, but a solution that reduces the air turbulence behind the flying shell, thus increasing its range. However, this increased range comes at the cost of a smaller explosive payload and – at long distances – less accuracy.

Ukraine has also received in small quantities special shells that provide a range of about 60 kilometres. This is achieved in various ways – the American M549A1 shell has additional rocket propulsion, while the Swedish-American M982 Excalibur features extendable aerodynamic surfaces.

The current combat-used record-holder is the Italian-German Vulcano 155 GLR – its aerodynamically optimised shape and smaller calibre reduce air resistance, allowing it to achieve a range of even 70-80 kilometres.

However, this is not the peak of modern artillery's capabilities. Although attempts to increase range have always been made, the contemporary breakthrough can be attributed to Gerald Bull, a Canadian ballistic engineer.

The GC-45 howitzer developed by him in the 1970s allowed for firing at distances of 30-40 kilometres (depending on whether standard shells or shells with a base bleed were used), at a time when the range of contemporary artillery was about 10 kilometres less.

The GC-45 – though produced in small numbers (some were acquired by Iraq) – set the course for the development of modern artillery, increasing firing range through longer barrels and improved ammunition.

Today, key manufacturers of artillery systems and ammunition continue this direction of development, increasing the barrel length in experimental howitzers, reinforcing their construction, or improving propellants to achieve higher gas pressure, which translates into greater projectile speed and range.

A good example is the testing conducted by Rheinmetall in South Africa, where extended-range Assegai V-LAP (Velocity Enhanced Artillery Projectile) ammunition is being developed, allowing for firing at a distance of 80 kilometres. An even better result was achieved by the British company BAE Systems, reporting a range of 100 kilometres for 155 mm ammunition.

Similar work was also carried out by the Americans under the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) programme, but in early 2024, the work was halted in a search for savings. During tests, a range of 110 kilometres was achieved.

For the increasing range of artillery to have real significance, it is necessary to use appropriate reconnaissance means, allowing for the detection and identification of targets from tens of kilometres away.

While in the case of static objects this role can be played by satellite reconnaissance, for moving targets – such as convoys – it is necessary to have observation capabilities conducted in near real-time. This role can be fulfilled by aviation, artillery radars, or increasingly and with better observation means, unmanned aerial vehicles.

Therefore, it is crucial that as the range of fire of the "god of war" increases, it can "see" at greater distances. A good example is Poland, which – along with the increasing capabilities of its barrel and rocket artillery – is gradually also improving reconnaissance means.

To the RZRA Liwiec artillery radars or FlyEye drones, MALE-class drones like Bayraktar TB2 or (currently leased) MQ-9A Reaper have been added. Although they are often promoted as strike machines, their most important role on the modern battlefield is reconnaissance. Ultimately, thanks to Polish satellite reconnaissance, the detection and indication of static targets over long distances will also be possible.