Army soldiers from 107 Battery, 4th Regiment, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, fire a M777 155mm howitzer during Exercise Chimera. (DEFENCE)

Army’s Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RAA) has successfully tested a new Sensor-fused Munition for Artillery (SMArt) 155mm round.

Tested during Exercise Chimera held at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton in late March, the new round is fired from the M777 155mm howitzer and is specifically designed for long-range, top-attack. Each round contains two submunitions which descend over a battlefield on parachutes, identify armoured vehicles using advanced sensors, and then fire an explosively formed penetrator warhead into the target.

Commanding Officer of 4 Regiment RAA LTCOL Paul Duncan said in a statement that Army had lacked a capability to efficiently and effectively engage and destroy heavy armoured fighting vehicles, such as main battle tanks. But, “The introduction of the SMArt155 projectile gives us that a capability to create a dilemma for enemy commanders by disrupting armoured approaches at operationally significant ranges, in all weather and terrain.”

Director Combat Support Program COL Andrew Langford said the exercise indicated Army was a capable and ready land force. “This exercise showcased the professionalism of our gunners, demonstrating their ability to work together as an effective team,” he said.

“We are now prepared and ready for warfare on the contemporary battlefield, but we are continually looking for ways to be ready for future challenges in an ever-changing environment. We are achieving this challenge by working closely with our partners in Defence Industry.”

Australian Army soldiers from Alpha Gun, 107 Battery, 4th Regiment, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, at Shoalwater Bay Training Area. (DEFENCE)