A Platform for long range indirect fire support capabilities

Topic description

Specific Challenge:

Due to the evolution of the defence context in Europe, land forces need the ability to operate in a high intensity threat environment, facing potential technically advanced adversaries. In this context, associated firepower to protection of forces like artillery capabilities need to have their range, precision and efficiency improved.

​The proposals must address the development of an enhanced European artillery through the upgrade of current and development of next generation of indirect fire (IDF) artillery systems (both gun self-propelled systems and rocket launchers).

Targeted activities

The proposals must cover the study and design of the proposed solution, not excluding downstream activities.

Main high-level requirements

Precise requirements will be defined together with the participating Member States during the study phase.

The IDF artillery solution to be designed should fulfil the following requirements:

• able to reach long ranges (minimum 60 km for gun self-propelled systems, minimum 200 km for rocket launchers) with an accurate guidance;
• capable to fire conventional and guided long-range and programmable precise ammunitions (155 mm shells for gun self-propelled systems);
• interoperable with EU Member States and NATO countries;
• able to perform deep strikes;
• able to strike at counter-fire and at high-payoff targets;
• feature accurate and robust Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) performances in order to operate under denied or degraded GNSS environment;
• have a high level of automation for improved performances and crew reduction;
• have an autonomous and fast resupply system to reduce vulnerability;
• have optimized life cycle costs, maintenance ability at battery level, durable artillery guns vis-à-vis longer ranges, and be reliable;
• have a high level of reliability in all weather conditions;
• include a command and control system: ​​
  • able to provide command and control of the whole platform;
  • allowing the integration of the system into European indirect fire capabilities;
  • compliant with either national and NATO standards;
  • based on an open architecture able to reduce the life-cycle process and enhance the integration phase;
  • based on a modular architecture in order to easily adapt to new effectors for precision strike.

• Support to the security and defence interests of the EU;
• Contribution to the European industrial autonomy, avoiding any dependence on third non-European countries;
• Contribution to increased interoperability and potential European standards;
• Reduction, through commonality and mass production, of the acquisition and life-cycle costs for each Member State
• Competitiveness due to new market opportunities;
• Reduction of the cost of European military missions.