The XM2001 Crusader was to be the United States Army's next generation self-propelled howitzer, designed to provide significant increases in artillery survivability, lethality, mobility, and operational effectiveness. In early May 2002, United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld cancelled the US$11 billion program.
The Crusader was intended to displace the M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer and the M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle (FAASV). Crusader is a fully automated cannon artillery system to support the Initial Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) Counterattack Corps and is a critical technology enabler for future systems.
In addition to strategic deployability (two howitzers transportable in the C-17 Globemaster), other key features of the Crusader included:
- the XM297E2 integral mid-wall cooled cannon that enables sustained high rates of fire;
- a reliable, fully automated ammunition handling and loading system designed to use the modular artillery charge system and automatic inductively set multi-option fuze;
- a state-of-the-art cockpit with embedded command and control that allows the crew to exploit the system's full battle capabilities;
- embedded training and diagnostics to facilitate skill retention and maintenance support;
- composite armor;
- a suite of survivability features to protect the soldier and the system; and
- the LV100-5 gas turbine engine (common with the Abrams tank) that provides the improved mobility to keep pace with the supported maneuver force.
SPH | RSV-T | RSV-W | |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight | 40 tons | 36 tons | 33.3 tons |
Length | 7.53 m | 7.53 m | 11.03 m |
Width | 3.31 m | 3.31 m | 2.44 m |
Height | 3.00 m | 3.00 m | 3.59 m |
Cross-Country Mobility | 39-48 kph | 39-48 kph | 64 kph |
Armament | Cooled 155mm | none | none |
Max Range | 40-50km (assisted) | ||
Rate of Fire/Resupply | 10-12 rounds/min | 48 rounds/10.4min | 48 rounds/10.4min |
Crew | 3 | 3 | 3 |
- Prime Contractors: United Defense, L.P. (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Foreign Counterpart: No known foreign counterpart
- Foreign Military Sales: None
- Program Status
- 1QFY95 Approved to commence program definition and risk reduction (PDRR) phase.
- 2QFY98 In-process review completed and manufacture of the PDRR prototype systems begun.
- 3QFY99 Delivered first RSV prototype.
- 2QFY00 Delivered first prototype howitzer SPH 1.
- 1QFY02 Successful preliminary design review.
- 1QFY02 More than 4000 rounds fired from SPH 1.
- 2QFY02 Program cancelled.
- Projected Activities
- 2QFY03 Milestone B scheduled.
- 2QFY06 Milestone C scheduled.
- 3QFY08 First unit equipped.