Raytheon fired two precision-guided projectiles from a Paladin gun system during the first guided flight test of the Raytheon Excalibur Ib program.

The Excalibur Ib is a precision-guided artillery projectile based on Raytheon's combat-proven Excalibur 1a. The tests demonstrated how the new base design, changes to the Excalibur Ia warhead, fuzing and control actuation system work together to simplify the design, reducing round production costs and increasing system reliability.

The rounds, with Raytheon's new fixed-base design, software, and Excalibur Ia guidance and control section, exited perfectly from the gun tube, demonstrating correct fin erection and stable flight.

"Our robust and well thought out test program has achieved more than 50 successful test firings in less than a year," said Kevin Matthies, Raytheon's Excalibur Ib program director. "The Raytheon Excalibur Ib team continues to demonstrate the success of Raytheon's increased reliability design."

Raytheon's Excalibur Ib features a titanium base, uses fewer parts and requires simpler manufacturing than Excalibur Ia. Excalibur Ib is expected to reach full-rate production in 2016.