Saber Block 1B Upgrade

Saber offered the US Army a design capability and a low per unit cost for the Block 1B upgrade to the Excalibur program. Saber would give artillery batteries a precision-fire capability with significantly more stand-off range than current 155mm artillery. It was designed for compatibility with all existing and future 155mm cannons. The relatively simple design of Saber allowed it to accurately fly to target with fewer moving parts, making the round highly reliable, very effective and importantly, lower-cost than the competition.

Alliant Techsystems announced on 13 June 2006 that it successfully tested its advanced, 155mm precision projectile: Saber. Saber was fired from a 155mm cannon, using a Zone-5 charge, the most powerful charge configuration used by US forces. The test was conducted at the Yuma Proving Grounds, Yuma, Arizona. After exiting the barrel, the tail fin assembly deployed and latched as designed. After the fins were locked in place, the round's rocket motor ignited and completed a full burn. The thrust provided by the rocket motor allowed the round to reach its 48 Kilometer objective. In previous tests, ATK had demonstrated the effectiveness of its INS/GPS guidance solution.