Technological innovations have made their way into the military industry, including artillery. Boeing and Nammo, in partnership with the US Army, have successfully conducted tests on a new artillery shell equipped with a direct-precise aircraft-reactive engine (PVRR) [source] [source].
The tests were carried out at the Yuma Proving Ground training ground in Arizona. The team released a 155 mm shell from the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (Erca) gun. Although it resembles traditional artillery ammunition, the shell contains advanced PVR technology inside [source].
Inside the projectile’s body is a solid missile fuel that does not contain an oxidizing agent, unlike traditional mixtures. When the projectile is fired, it rapidly accelerates to supersonic speeds, activating the PVR. This causes the air in front of the projectile to be sucked in, compressed, mixed with fuel, and burned, thereby generating additional thrust.
Thanks to this technology, the range of the projectile can reach up to 93 miles (approximately 150 km), which marks a significant breakthrough in artillery technology.
According to Boeing representatives, the main objective of these tests was to demonstrate the safety of the new shell and showcase its flight characteristics. Future attention will be devoted to enhancing accuracy in shooting.