155 LU 220

The large operational use of 52 calibre 155 mm artillery guns led to the development of a new generation of munitions that were able to fully exploit the increased range capability of those systems.

That new artillery round was developed to maximise the range of the new CAESAR and other 52 calibres guns.

That new artillery round was developed to maximise the range of the new Caesar and other 52 calibres guns

KNDS France developed the LU 220, an artillery ammunition classified as “MUnitions à Risque Atténué” (MURAT, attenuated risk munitions)

The ammunition is STANAG 4439 qualified and is 940 mm long, compared to the 867 mm of the LU 211, but remains fully compatible with the Caesar and the other 52 cal artillery systems.
The diameter being obviously the same, being imposed by the calibre, the extra 73 mm in length allows obtaining a better aspect ratio reducing the aerodynamic drag hence increasing the range. Moreover, the higher volume of the bigger LU 220 allows for a higher amount of insensitive explosive to be loaded into the round, 11 kg compared to the 8.8 kg of the LU 211, a 25% increase that compensates the inherently reduced explosive power of the XF 13 333 versus the Comp B.
Another plus of the LU 220 over the LU 211 is that the new munition is designed to accept deep intrusion fuses and can therefore be fitted with precision guidance fuses.