Deadly Katana: 155mm projectile extends Ukrainian artillery capabilities to 60 km
KNDS France is developing a high-precision guided 155-mm Katana munition. The high-precision projectile can be fired from all 155 mm guns to destroy important targets such as artillery systems, radars or enemy command posts.
The development of this projectile reflects the widespread use of CAESAR howitzers on the Ukrainian front. The 155-mm gun in the MKII version provides increased mobility, which allows avoiding counter-battery fire aimed at destroying artillery systems.
The MKII version has a claimed range of 60 kilometers and a circular error probability of less than 10 meters, which reduces collateral damage. The projectile includes a 6 kg high explosive insensitive warhead and a programmable multi-mode fuze of marginal effect, which can be adjusted depending on the target and its level of protection. The fuze allows the warhead to explode in the air, on impact or with a delay for maximum damage.
The 155mm Katana ammunition not only provides programmable fuzing, but also the ability to change and adjust the flight path in flight. The Katana is also equipped with a global navigation system (GNSS) combined with an inertial navigation system for operation in the absence of GNSS.
According to KNDS France, to achieve such performance, designers integrate “high-performance electronics capable of withstanding extreme accelerations and shocks”.
