What is an NLOS cannon?

In 2012, you find yourself in a dire situation as a soldier in a military fighting against the United States. The convoy of armored vehicles you're part of suddenly stops. An unmanned aerial drone appears over the horizon, heading straight toward the convoy. You and your platoon members are ordered to disembark and neutralize the reconnaissance drone.

U.S. Army Image Collection

After taking aim and launching a shoulder-fired rocket that obliterates the drone, you hear a faint explosion from above. Looking up, you see several small parachutes carrying what seem to be canisters, gently floating toward the convoy. Oddly, despite a crosswind that should have blown them away, each canister is falling directly toward a vehicle.

You hear someone shout "cluster bomb!" in your own language, followed by a series of rapid explosions that shake your body. Your vision fades, and all that remains is a piercing high-frequency sound. As the dust clears, you find nothing but small fires where the armored vehicles once stood. The remaining members of your platoon exchange terrified glances. It's painfully obvious that the time to flee has arrived. You take a few steps, and suddenly, a blinding light fills your sight. Then, everything goes dark.

Eighteen miles away, the impact of the attack is confirmed.

Step into the United States Army's vision for the future of combat. At the heart of this new era is the weapon that wiped out you and your convoy -- the non-line-of-sight cannon (NLOS-C). This advanced weapon can fire a variety of rounds with pinpoint accuracy from seemingly nowhere, swiftly neutralizing enemy movement with minimal collateral damage.

Discover more about this groundbreaking advancement in American military strength on the next page.

What makes the NLOS-C so remarkable?

It may come as a shock, but as of 2008, the United States wasn't the top-ranked country in cannon artillery technology, according to defense experts [source: Global Security]. In past and ongoing conflicts, the shells fired by the U.S. Army rear artillery often missed their intended targets, caused excessive collateral damage (including civilian casualties), and failed to detonate as designed.

This revelation becomes less surprising when you realize that in the 21st century, the U.S. Army was still using manned tanks based on designs from the 1950s and '60s. Though new technology was periodically introduced, these updates were mostly limited to adding new features to outdated systems. The Army expects to deploy the NLOS-C in combat by 2010 [source: Field Artillery], marking the first complete redesign of mobile artillery technology in decades.

Non-line-of-sight refers to the cannon's ability to hit targets with precision over great distances, even when faced with geographical or man-made obstacles. Line-of-sight weapons require close range to the enemy, while beyond-line-of-sight weapons can strike from much farther away. Non-line-of-sight weapons can accurately target positions up to 30 km (about 18 miles) away, depending on the type of ammunition used [source: Global Security]. The cannon being developed by BAE Systems for the U.S. Army uses a 155mm .38 caliber howitzer and offers a wide array of ammunition options.

One category of munitions, called smart submunitions, includes the cluster bombs mentioned earlier. A single shell can carry multiple charges that separate mid-flight. Each submunition is directed toward its intended target. Another category, the XM982 Excalibur, is a "fire-and-forget" round. It can act as an explosive shell or a target-seeking munition capable of tracking moving targets. Similar to guided missiles, it recognizes targets based on specific characteristics [source: Global Security]. The effectiveness of the shells is verified by the Projectile Tracking System "before the round completes its trajectory" [source: Field Artillery]. In short, the crew of the NLOS-C knows the target's fate before the target does.

The NLOS-C is capable of firing a range of different rounds, switching from one type of shell to another with each shot. Due to its automated firing system, the cannon can operate at a high rate of speed. This automation reduces the number of crew members needed from the typical four or five down to just two soldiers. The vehicle's armor is made of lightweight aluminum, cutting its weight by 22 to 42 tons compared to the M1 Paladin or Abrams tanks, which makes it easier to transport by cargo plane. Additionally, the NLOS-C is quieter and more fuel-efficient, with a diesel engine and tracks powered by an electric-hybrid system.

Experts in defense predict that "The NLOS-C will be the key indirect fire support system for the U.S. Army's FCS [future combat systems] and will reduce United States casualties … and increase the effectiveness of the entire ground force" [source: Global Security]. It's clear that the NLOS-C is at the forefront of artillery technology. However, BAE's manned cannon is just one component — albeit a central one — of an entirely new approach to future warfare. On the next page, learn about the Army's vision of the battlefield once the NLOS-Cs are deployed.

Future Combat Systems

Michael Ignatieff, a Canadian Parliament member, famously envisioned a future warfare scenario where computers and analysts would control the battlefield remotely. He predicted that this virtual form of warfare would become increasingly complex to understand and organize — a prediction that seems to be partially realized in the U.S. Army's concept of future battle [source: USNA]. This concept is known as Future Combat Systems (FCS), with the non-line-of-sight cannon playing a crucial role in its realization.

The Future Combat Systems will feature unmanned vehicles such as airborne reconnaissance drones, unmanned heavy vehicles like the Crusher, and remotely operated missile arsenals. Manned vehicles like the NLOS-C and its partner, the non-line-of-sight mortar, along with troop and medical transport vehicles, will also play key roles. And, of course, the human soldier will still be a part of the equation. However, the backbone of the FCS is its network.

The FCS will rely on battlefield integration and networking in the same way that previous battlefields relied on human intelligence, radios, and maps. The core technology behind this system is LandWarNet, "a combination of services that extends voice, video, and data transmissions to the outer edges of tactical formations" [source: Dept. of the Army]. The Army's vision of future warfare involves a highly interconnected ground force that exchanges and receives real-time data, ranging from weather conditions at the frontlines to enemy troop movements and even the location of sniper positions.

The goal of this new approach to warfare is to preserve lives, both American and civilian. To achieve this, the timely flow of information is critical. Unmanned drone scouts will provide direct links to soldiers in the field, notifying them of potential threats ahead. Soldiers will also connect to rearward vehicles like the NLOS-C, allowing the cannons to target threats facing ground troops. MGVs (manned ground vehicles) will receive transmissions from drones, enabling cannons to take out targets that soldiers haven’t encountered yet.

The Army has not undertaken such significant structural changes since the 1970s. According to Rob Colenso, Director of Online Operations for Army Times Publishing, "The Army's development of the AirLand Battle doctrine during that time led to the creation of the M1 Abrams tank, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter, the UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter, and the Patriot anti-aircraft missile." These so-called 'Big Five' began being introduced to Army units in the 1980s and remain essential to the force. However, as FCS becomes fully operational, they will gradually become less central.

Such an extensive overhaul isn't inexpensive. Back in 2004, the Army's FCS update came with a price tag of approximately $117 billion [source: Defense Tech].

However, having advanced firepower is just one part of the solution for peace. To truly reduce casualties on both sides of a conflict, diplomatic efforts must match the progressive pace set by the Army with its Future Combat Systems.

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