Camp Grayling, Michigan. (August 17, 2024): It is a weapon that can accurately destroy a target up to twenty-five miles away while minimizing the risk to innocent civilians. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, Army Sergeant Jose Ochoa and Specialist Joseph Travino fire a M777A2 howitzer during Exercise Northern Strike 24-2. The British made “triple seven” howitzer has revolutionized artillery warfare in several deadly ways.

First used in combat during the War in Afghanistan, the new howitzer coupled with M982 Excalibur GPS guided munitions have already made history. In June 2012, Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines successfully fired the triple seven against insurgents at a range of twenty two miles in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. This was the longest operational shot in the history of the M777 howitzer, and the longest operational barrel artillery shot in the history of the Marine Corps.

Excalibur, named after the mythical sword of King Arthur, was developed as a longer-range alternative to conventional artillery shells with GPS guidance added for improved accuracy. Excalibur has a range of approximately 25 to 35 miles depending on the configuration and can strike targets accurately to within sixteen feet. This precision saves lives during close air support of friendly troops while minimizing collateral damage to innocent civilians. Moreover, an Excalibur projectile can accurately hit an intended target that would require the use of between 10 and 50 unguided artillery rounds.

The Excalibur achieves this extended range through the use of folding glide fins which allow the projectile to glide from the top of a ballistic arc toward the target. It also It has a multi-function fuse that can be programmed to explode in the air, once it hits a hard surface, or after it penetrates a target.

Another advantage of the triple seven is its light weight (41 percent lighter than a standard howitzer) making the weapon easily transportable by helicopter sling-load or by transport aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules or C-5 Galaxy. On the ground, it can be towed by a five-ton truck and can be set up and ready to fire in less than two minutes.

The ground forces of Australia, Canada, Columbia, India, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine currently use the 777 Howitzer.