Much of the success of the counteroffensive was due to precision-guided bombs. Russian command posts have been devastated by US-made rockets.
Russian forces face the threat of guided howitzer shells, which can destroy a target with a single shell, and old fashioned unguided projectiles.
At least 1,000 shells will be included in the aid package that the US sent. The German government has pledged 255 guided shells.
The Excalibur shell includes deployable fins. The howitzer has a range of about 25 miles. The fins pop out after launch to adjust the trajectory.
The Excalibur shell is said to be able to hit within 7 feet of a target.
Leonardo, the Italian firm that makes the Vulcano, says it has a range of about 43 miles and is accurate to within about 5 yards. The shell can be guided by a laser and also by a gps device.
It's a problem with the rounds that a moving target can change location by the time they arrive. Laser-guided shells are more accurate as they home in on a target.
Both the Excalibur S and the Vulcano have the option of using a semi- active laser. Leonardo says that the laser offers further improved precision.
One of the issues with smart shells is cost.
The Excalibur round costs around $100,000, while unguided 155mm rocket-assisted projectiles cost around $15,000 each. The M795, the US military's standard unguided 155mm shell, is less expensive than this.
The M975 only has a Circular Error Probable which is how close 50% of the rounds land to the target.
Since World War I, the standard method has been to fire a few spotting rounds so a forward observer can tell the gun crew how to shoot.
In order to hit small targets, the bombardiers had to lay down barrages. The economics are evened out by the prospect of one round, one kill.
During the Cold War, NATO was constantly looking for ways to offset the numerical superiority of the Soviets.
The M712 Copperhead laser-guided shell was developed in the early 1970s and is still being used today.
The Copperhead is a 155mm shell that deploys fins as it descends and makes a glide to a target. The system had limitations.
The Copperhead has a minimum firing range of 1.9 miles to allow the round to maneuver on target and is less effective in heavy cloud cover and low visibility conditions.
The illumination laser must be trained on the target until impact, something difficult to do on a moving target or from far away, according to the museum.
While Russia has laser-guided weaponry like the 2N25 Krasnopol, Ukrainians prefer the approach of the Soviets: mass shelling to destroy or stun the opponent.
Quality may be more important for Ukraine than quantity.
His work has been published in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He has a masters degree in political science. You can follow him on social networking sites.
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