Saudi Arabia Makes Advanced Artillery Ammo

A previous article discussed the first appearance of the SAMI 155mm/52 caliber howitzer mounted on an 8×8 truck at the World Defense Show in February. New artillery systems are being developed and tested in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America each year but their finer details–like the ammunition they use, for example–are often less scrutinized. The display of the SAMI 155mm howitzer did feature a quartet of inert 155mm rounds arranged on the truck’s bed and their appearance is quite significant.

Thanks to SAMI’s own media the ammunition types can be examined at length. As the photo above reveals, from left to right, are a base-bleed (BB) round and another round enhanced with a precision guidance kit (PGK) for accuracy. Another base-bleed round features small rectangular vents that indicate rocket assisted propulsion. Finally, towering above the rest, is a heftier round whose shape and size conforms to the US-made M982 Excalibur.

Saudi Arabia’s ground forces operate different self-propelled guns in the 155mm caliber. Among them are hundreds of US-made M109-series (A2, A3, A5) and in 2016 an arms deal was announced for 180 M109A6 Paladin howitzers considered among the most advanced in the world. Published details revealed 177 M109A5’s will be upgraded to the Paladin standard resulting in a brand new artillery system. That same year an ammunition plant was opened outside Riyadh tasked with mass-producing howitzer and mortar rounds licensed from Rheinmetall Denel. This marked a significant achievement for Saudi Arabia’s military-industrial sector as it could furnish the military during its war in Yemen and eased reliance on thousands of 155mm rounds purchased from the US.

Checking product information for 155mm rounds proves SAMI’s boast that it helps fulfill the armed forces’ ammunition needs. The inert ammunition seen at World Defense Show 2024 matched those offered in Rheinmetall Denel’s catalog especially the base-bleed or ERFB-BB rounds. Similar ammunition produced in China and India are capable of reaching targets from 38 to 39 kilometers away. If Saudi Arabia is now mass-producing these rounds its French and US-made howitzers become some of the most lethal in the region. The single 155mm round with a PGK–a fuze equipped with four small canards–is another Rheinmetall Denel offering but with inputs from US aerospace manufacturer Northrop Grumman.

It’s clear SAMI have global partners when it comes to locally made howitzer ammunition. The addition of an inert M982 Excalibur round at SAMI’s display is still surprising as production can only be carried out if Raytheon/RTX and the Saudi ground forces’ longtime supplier BAE Systems are helping in their assembly. An M982 Excalibur is combat proven and has been tested against targets up to 65 kilometers away from an emplaced M777A2 or M109A6 Paladin. To date SAMI hasn’t clarified the status of its locally Excalibur rounds and the partners involved. There’s also conflicting news of a rival joint venture for a smart howitzer round with a French supplier. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall announced its plans for extreme-range 155mm rounds equipped with miniaturized ramjet engines and it’s certain the Saudis are following the news with interest.

Artillery is just one niche that Saudi Arabia’s centralized military-industrial sector is trying to improve on. Between GAMI and SAMI are complex programs and significant resources that are drawing in global players. For all the clues and subtle nods to technical advancement the sum of the country’s ambitions are walled in official silence and limited media exposure.