The US Army is advancing its long-range fires modernization strategy through the Extended Range Artillery Projectile (ERAP) program, awarding multiple contracts to industry partners tasked with developing a next-generation 155mm artillery round capable of dramatically increasing engagement distances.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, General Atomics, and BAE Systems have been selected to participate in the program, which seeks advanced ammunition solutions compatible with existing 39-caliber and 52-caliber artillery platforms. Introduced in 2024, ERAP is intended to deliver a new family of long-range projectiles from US and Canadian manufacturers, with operational deployment targeted for fiscal year 2030.
The Army expects low-rate production to commence by mid-2029, with an initial procurement objective of at least 300 rounds. The program is designed to enhance artillery reach, precision, and survivability in future high-intensity combat environments.
GD-OTS has been awarded a $37.86 million contract for a projectile based on the Vulcano 155 Guided Long Range ammunition developed by Leonardo and Diehl Defence. The Vulcano system is already in operational service with Germany and Italy and is capable of engaging both static and mobile targets at ranges approaching 70 kilometres. Its performance is enabled by advanced aerodynamic shaping, GPS-assisted navigation, and semi-active laser terminal guidance. Variants equipped with far-infrared seekers also provide maritime strike capability while retaining effectiveness in contested electronic warfare conditions.
General Atomics received a $24.84 million contract to continue development of its Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile, a guided artillery round featuring deployable wings and in-flight manoeuvring capability. Designed to maintain high accuracy even in GPS-denied environments, the projectile is expected to achieve engagement ranges beyond 120 kilometres, offering a substantial increase over existing precision artillery munitions.
BAE Systems Land & Armaments was awarded the largest contract, valued at $81.43 million, to support demonstration and qualification efforts for its Scorpio-XR projectile. The precision-guided round is engineered with a low-drag profile to maximize range and reduce flight time while retaining the ability to engage fixed and moving targets at distances greater than 70 kilometres. The system is specifically designed for operations in contested battlefields where precision and survivability are critical.
