Ukrainian artillery achieves record range with advanced Vulcano ammo
Ukrainian media are reporting on a record achieved by their artillery. Using the Polish Krab, they hit targets as far as 69 kilometres away. This was made possible by a "mysterious guided missile."
As suggested by sources like Defence24, this may refer to Vulcano ammunition. The Polish military wants to integrate Krabs with these missiles, allowing firing at the aforementioned distance. Representatives from the Leonardo group, responsible for producing Vulcano ammunition, state that discussions are ongoing regarding field tests to evaluate the effectiveness of Krabs collaborating with the new ammunition.
Krab's range increased to 69 kilometres
It is possible that certain conclusions have already been drawn based on shooting conducted in wartime conditions. Reports from Ukraine might suggest that their soldiers have already had the opportunity to fire Vulcano missiles from Krabs, sent to the front several months ago. However, this solution is still described as experimental.
The Krab hitting targets 69 kilometres away would have twice the range compared to standard ammunition. According to the manufacturer of Vulcano ammunition, its capabilities largely depend on the type of artillery.
In the case of shorter guns, the range can reach up to approximately 50 kilometres, but for 52-calibre length guns (such as the Polish Krab or German PzH 2000), it is possible to reach targets as far as 69 to 80 kilometres.
Specifications of Vulcano missiles
As explained by Przemysław Juraszek, a journalist for Wirtualna Polska, Vulcano missiles have a very interesting design. This is sub-calibre ammunition, with the projectile smaller than traditional 155 mm ones. It is a projectile placed in a sabot that dimensionally fits the gun, eventually falling away, leaving a smaller, lighter projectile moving faster than traditional solutions.
Other features of this ammunition are important too. Designers implemented an advanced guidance system including GPS navigation supported by INS, which provides high targeting precision with an error margin of only 2 to 3 metres.
