PETAWAWA, Ontario - Troops from D Battery the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2 RCHA) recently had the chance to use the new Digitized Gun Management System (DGMS), installed on two 155mm M777 howitzers and now in its final development phase. Directorate of Land Requirements (DLR) sponsored the (DGMS) engineer and user trial using the M777 howitzer,
Exercise NOVICE ARCHER was a troop level live and dry artillery training exercise the week of 24-28 July to practice and hone the skills of gun troop movement, force protection and live firing.
Foreground is the gun commanders main computer console for receiving and entering gun coordinates and data into the M777 howitzer DGMS.
"With the problems of weather such as sand storms, winter blizzards, you may not see your gun aiming point (GAP) and this causes a problem for the howitzer so you would need to set up a collimator in the rear. With the Digital Gun Management System all of that is avoided. You can basically be independent of the weather, you're good to go," said Maj Bruno Di Ilo DLR 2-3, former project director for the M777 and DGMS.
Maj Di llo continued, "The DGMS is integrated with the Indirect Fire Control Computer System (IFCCS) and the Raytheon MicroLight digital radio (a medium capacity radio being procured by the CF) to provide a digital link from the Command Post to the guns. It will assist in reducing human error."
Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems of Edinburgh, UK built the DGMS. It is based on the LINAPS DGMS, which is fielded in the British Army. Plans are being developed for a technical assistance visit to Afghanistan to finish the installation and to conduct in-theater training.
Article and Photos by Master Corporal Eric Gordon, Army News
