Israel's new Extended Range Artillery Munition - EXTRA

A new, precise Extended Range Artillery (EXTRA) munitions system is being developed by Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) MLM System Integration Division and Israel Military Industries (IMI) Rocket Systems Division.

Capable of being launched from multiple platforms, the EXTRA is packaged in a four-unit pod configuration for land-based launches. It can be installed on a high mobility truck or in a fixed installation. EXTRA comes in a disposable sealed canister providing a long service life and very low maintenance costs.

EXTRA munitions have a range in excess of 130 km (81 miles) and carry a125 kg (275 lbs) warhead. EXTRA's launch weight is about 450kg (990 lbs) and it is precise to within 10m. EXTRA munitions are 30cm (12 inches) in diameter and 3.97m (13 feet) in length, similar to the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)

www.iai.co.il...

Israel Aircraft Industries’ (IAI’s) MLM System Integration Division and Israel Military Industries’ (IMI’s) Rocket Systems Division unveiled their munition joint development, the Extended Range Artillery (EXTRA) round, at the Paris Air Show from 13-19 June.
Displayed in model format (pictured) in Paris, EXTRA will be packaged in a four-unit pod configuration and can be launched from multiple platforms for land-based launches, including installation on a high-mobility truck or in a fixed installation. According to IMI, the EXTRA can be launched from Lockheed Martin’s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), in service with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) and other armed forces worldwide.
The EXTRA munition is 3.97 m in length, 30 cm in diameter, has a launch weight of 450 kg and is capable of carrying a 125 kg warhead, either in high explosive or cargo (submunitions) configuration using a system similar
to that of the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). According to IAI, EXTRA munitions have a range in excess of 130 km and have a circular error of probability of “within 10 m”.
IAI and IMI have invested equally in the development programme and have pooled their experience in rocket motors, warhead and guidance systems to develop EXTRA, building on developments in precision-guided non-line-of-sight strike technology. IAI has gained valuable knowledge that it has applied to the EXTRA from the development of its Long-Range Artillery guided missile, which is designed for a greater range. The rocket features IAI’s GPS-based inertial navigation system with a gas generator thruster correcting the trajectory during flight. The target data is installed in the
rocket while in the launcher and, once fired, the rocket autonomously navigates itself to a target. IAI said the EXTRA is in progressive stages of development and that its MLM division plans to perform a series of tests
and customer demonstrations in the second half of next year.

Robin Hughes JDW Middle East Editor, London
Alon Ben-David JDW Corr

Janes Defence Weekly VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 24 • 15 JUNE 2005