Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA). Image – U.S. Army/Ana Henderson
The Army has pulled the plug on its Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program. The project, launched in 2018, aimed to develop a new self-propelled howitzer with a longer firing range. However, after encountering technical difficulties during testing, the Army decided to cut its losses and move on to other options.
The ERCA program aimed to extend the range of artillery fire from 30 kilometers to 70 kilometers (43.5 miles). This would have given the Army a significant advantage on the battlefield. Unfortunately, the new design, which featured a 30-foot gun tube mounted on a Paladin M109 chassis, experienced problems during live-fire testing. These issues prevented the ERCA from reaching its projected range and forced the Army to abandon the project.
Even though the ERCA program met with cancellation, the Army is still committed to developing long-range artillery capabilities. They are likely to explore alternative designs and technologies to meet their future needs via their $55 million FY25 budget request for an extended-range cannon capability.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
