The United States Army is actively seeking manufacturing partners to produce a new generation of 155mm artillery shells, signaling a significant step in modernizing its area-effects munitions. According to a market survey released on November 20, the goal is to establish a production capacity of up to 30,000 XM1208 cluster shells per year. This initiative comes as the U.S. and its allies work to increase overall artillery production, currently at 40,000 shells per month, mainly in response to the high demand driven by the conflict in Ukraine.
The Army’s solicitation emphasizes the potential for multiple manufacturers to contribute to the production of the XM1208, requesting that potential sources detail their minimum and maximum output capabilities.
Technological Advancements in the XM1208
The XM1208 is a key component of the Army’s strategy to enhance its artillery capabilities while addressing long-standing humanitarian concerns associated with older cluster weapons. Designed for use with M109A6/7 Paladin and M777A2 howitzers, the shell can engage targets at a maximum range of approximately 14 miles.
A critical design focus of the XM1208 is mitigating the risk of unexploded ordnance. To achieve this, each submunition is equipped with multiple fail-safes. If the primary proximity fuze fails, there are four backup systems: a point detonation feature that triggers on impact, a pyrotechnic fuze, and two additional electronic fuses.
Addressing the Legacy of Cluster Munitions
The development of the XM1208 is driven by the need to reconcile the tactical advantage of cluster munitions with international efforts to ban them due to the danger they pose to civilians. Cluster weapons, which disperse numerous small bomblets over a wide area, have been used since World War II to increase the probability of hitting targets.
During the Cold War, the U.S. military relied on Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM), which contained dozens or even hundreds of small grenade-like submunitions. However, these weapons were plagued by a high dud rate, with estimates ranging from 2% to 14%. This resulted in battlefields being contaminated with unexploded bomblets that remained a threat long after conflicts ended.
In 2008, the Department of Defense established a policy requiring that cluster munitions have a dud rate of no more than 1%, although this policy was later reversed in 2017.
The Path Forward for Area-Effects Munitions
The Army’s current plan is to replace the older DPICM with the more advanced Cannon-Delivered Area Effects Munition (C-DAEM) program. This program includes the XM1208 for use against personnel and light vehicles, as well as the XM1180, which dispenses anti-armor bomblets. A successful test of the XM1180 was announced in March 2024.
According to the Army, the objectives for these new munitions include providing enhanced lethality against a variety of targets, extending range, and ensuring reliability in environments where GPS may be unavailable, all while minimizing the risk of unexploded ordnance.
Despite the push for these next-generation weapons, the existing DPICM stockpile is likely to be retained for emergencies. Mark Cancian, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the military has consistently viewed DPICM as an effective weapon based on extensive testing and operational experience. He added that the primary challenge has consistently been achieving a sub-1% dud rate at a reasonable cost, a challenge the Army continues to address with its new designs.
