Germany to restart the production of SMArt 155 artillery rounds
New, modernized, and renewed SMArt 155 artillery rounds will be made by Germany. The obsolete ones have long gone to Ukraine. Based on their performance in the war, Germany decided to resume their production. 97.4 million euros will come from Germany’s budget to restart production that was stopped years ago.
It is necessary to develop and implement new electronic components since those used in the first batch of these munitions are no longer produced. However, the upgraded ammunition will not be sent to Ukraine but will be used by the Germans to prepare an effective anti-tank ammunition system for delivery.
The SMArt 155 is an artillery rocket containing two sub-rockets designed to engage armored targets parachuted to a specific location after the detonator has been fired.
Each has a millimeter radar and an infrared sensor. Both sensors allow you to precisely locate the target. The SMArt system is effective in combating armored vehicles, as it has an explosively formed charge [EFP] that allows effective destruction of even heavily armored tanks of the upper hemisphere when firing a howitzer with a barrel length of 52 calibers [Krab, PzH 2000, K9] and 22 km when firing from a howitzer with a barrel length of 39 calibers [M109A3GN, M777].
Missiles of this type were delivered to Ukraine as part of military aid together with PzH 2000 howitzers and were successfully used in combat operations there. It is not known how many missiles of this type were delivered by Germany. However, the resumption of their production was certainly planned earlier.
Work on the preparation of the capabilities is expected to continue until 2027. Berlin plans to purchase about 10,000 such munitions for 810 million euros.
