European Defence Agency (EDA) reports that they’ve successfully tested their Mission Abort System for large caliber guided ammunition. The new system incorporates a built-in self-destruction mechanism. Once its electronic system determines that the projectile leaves the safe range or flies at a different trajectory, it destroys the shell by breaking it into two pieces.

This system is supposed to make training possible in ranges that are in dangerous proximity to inhabited areas and couldn’t otherwise host large caliber armament practice shooting. This problem exists in many European countries.

Panzerhaubitze 2000

This project started back in 2013 and now they have the first successful test firing. The project is financed by Ministries of Defence of Germany and Italy. The test firing was done with 155mm Vulcano ammunition loaded with a subcaliber 92mm projectile. Two Mission Abort System projectiles were fired which were made by Diehl BGT Defence and Finmeccanica companies. The shells were shot in German Meppen Proving ground from a Panzerhaubitze 2000 which is a German self-propelled howitzer.

According to European Defence Agency, this system is also possible to apply to smaller caliber munitions if its electronics is made smaller.

Interesting to note, that a similar concept (accomplished differently but serving the same purpose) was earlier patented by the United States Army’s Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC).