The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted Tiberius Aerospace to develop its liquid-fuelled, 155mm ramjet precision-guided artillery munition, designed to strike targets at ranges of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).
While contract details have not been disclosed, company co-founder and chief strategy officer Andy Baynes said the round, dubbed Sceptre, has progressed since its May unveiling through a series of high-tempo live-firing and synthetic test cycles.
“We’re delighted to announce this UK MoD contract, which has invested early in our technology development cycle,” Baynes said.
“This is testament to the UK’s visionary leadership and their understanding of the importance of driving innovative solutions such as Sceptre and Defense-as-a-Service to increase national security.”
Extended-Range Precision-Guided
The round offers a range of 150 kilometers (93 miles) and a targeting accuracy with a circular error probability (CEP) of under 5 meters (16 feet), according to the company.
By comparison, the US Army’s standard 155mm M982 Excalibur round has a range of approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles). Last year, the service began seeking an extended-range projectile capable of reaching at least 70 kilometers (43 miles) when fired from a 52-caliber gun.
In terms of precision, a conventional artillery round offers a CEP of 100 meters (328 feet), according to the company.
Jam-Proof Round
Moreover, the shell can reach a speed of Mach 3.5 and altitudes above 65,000 feet (19,812 meters), placing it beyond the range of jamming systems.
For use in GPS-denied or degraded environments, the onboard GPS and inertial measurement unit operate in tandem, leveraging advanced AI to error-correct and maintain targeting confidence.
The inertial measurement unit provides position and orientation data when external signals are unavailable.
If required, multiple rounds can communicate in flight to further refine targeting.
Designed for Operational Efficiency
Designed to strike a balance between performance and operational efficiency, the round is compatible with NATO-standard 155mm artillery systems. It incorporates an ignition system and limited barrel contact points to reduce barrel wear.
Its multi-fuel liquid propellant system — compatible with diesel, JP-4, and JP-8 — reduces the logistics burden, minimizes storage and transport safety risks, and extends shelf life to more than 20 years.
Its modular, open-architecture design enables future software and hardware upgrades, drawing on modern technology best practices.
