Britain will be the first in the world to purchase ultra-long-range artillery shells with a jet engine

Tiberius Aerospace and the artillery revolution

Tiberius Aerospace has announced a contract with the UK Department of Defense for the development and testing of its new Sceptre artillery shell. This makes Britain the first customer of the technology, which the company calls "revolutionary." The projectile, officially designated as TRBM 155HG, is capable of flying faster than sound, rising above 20 km and hitting targets at a distance of up to 150 km.

And this is not fiction — these are already real tests, which are supervised even by the US Department of Defense Innovation.

Sceptre is not just a projectile, but a flying rocket

An ordinary 155-mm projectile flies along a ballistic trajectory — it's fired, and then it just falls. Sceptre works differently. After firing a standard cannon, it turns on a liquid-propellant ramjet engine (RAMJET), which accelerates it to Mach 3.5 and allows it to fly at almost space altitude — more than 20,000 meters.

Such a flight gives a huge advantage: less air resistance, longer range and, most importantly, the ability to adjust the trajectory in flight. Even with weak GPS, the system maintains accuracy of less than 5 meters (circular probable deviation).

Why did the UK become the first

Britain is actively investing in technologies that provide an advantage on the battlefield without increasing the number of troops. The Sceptre fits perfectly into this strategy: it is compatible with all major 155 mm NATO systems, from the AS-90 to the self—propelled "Large" ones.

By becoming a launch customer, the UK gets access to cutting-edge development ahead of others. This will not only strengthen her army, but also increase her influence in the alliance. Even the American DIU oversees testing and validation — a sign that the technology is serious.

How RAMJET engine changes the rules of the game

A ramjet engine is not just an accelerator. It allows the projectile to maneuver, avoid interference and choose the optimal trajectory. In an environment where the enemy is jamming GPS, this is critical.

Artillery can now hit targets that were previously out of reach. This means that there is less risk for your own, faster reactions and more chances to win in a fire duel. This is not modernization, it is a paradigm shift.

Sources

1. Tiberius Aerospace — official press releases
2. Tiberius Aerospace — project Sceptre page
3. TechCult — Sceptre functionality & trials overview
4. HighTech Plus — ramjet technology & NATO artillery potential
5. Overclockers.ru — UK artillery round with ramjet, rocket-like range
6. Podolyaka.ru — TRBM-155HG Sceptre tech details & trials
7. Ryb.ru — ramjet engine advantages & projectile specs

China is testing a new SH16 self-propelled howitzer with a robotic turret and record-breaking range shooting

SH16

The Chinese army has begun field trials of the new 155-mm SH16 self-propelled howitzer, which has already attracted the attention of military analysts as one of the most advanced artillery systems of the new generation. Information about the howitzer has been kept secret for a long time, but recent photos and publications on Chinese social networks have confirmed its active testing.

The SH16 is built on a tracked chassis with a total weight of about 32 tons. The main advantage of the system is a fully robotic modular turret weighing less than 14 tons, which significantly reduces the crew to two people: a driver and a gunner/commander. This became possible thanks to the introduction of automated loading and modern fire control systems, which increases the rate of fire and effectiveness of combat use.

The howitzer is equipped with a 52-caliber (155 mm × 52) long barrel, which significantly increases the initial velocity of the projectile and, consequently, the firing range. According to the data, the maximum range reaches 53-56 kilometers with the use of ERFB-BB active-rocket projectiles and up to 100 kilometers with the use of specialized precision—guided munitions - this makes the SH16 comparable in range with the world's best analogues.

The high level of automation allowed not only to reduce the number of crew, but also to increase the speed of deployment and position change. To stabilize the howitzer when firing in a combat position, special recoil-compensating frames are installed. The tower is equipped with its own radar station for measuring ballistic data and an optical system for direct fire.

Additionally, the SH16 can be equipped with a remote-controlled machine gun module for protection against infantry and smoke camouflage. In the spring of 2025, this system is expected to be demonstrated at the military parade of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on September 3, which will confirm its status as the main artillery innovation of the PLA.

The SH16 is designed to replace outdated models and enhance the combat capability of the Chinese ground forces. The increased firing range and high level of digital integration will make it possible to effectively suppress well-concealed targets, carry out pinpoint strikes from a long distance and quickly maneuver on the battlefield.

Special attention is paid to combining the system with modern means of communication and fire control within an integrated network, which makes the SH16 part of the digital army of the future.

The adoption of the SH16 by 2027 will significantly enhance the artillery capabilities of the People's Liberation Army of China. The combination of high firepower, precision, automation and mobility will make this howitzer a serious challenge in the global artillery market.

Tiberius Aerospace presents the Sceptre guided munition at the Future Artillery Conference

 

At the Future Artillery conference in London, the young British defense company Tiberius Aerospace presented the 155 mm guided Sceptre ammunition. It is equipped with a ramjet engine and is capable of striking at a distance of up to 160 km. Scepter promises superior accuracy and significantly increases the cost-effectiveness of howitzer-class artillery guns.

A conventional projectile fired from a standard 155 mm NATO howitzer has a range of 35 km. If we add drag reduction technology, a short-life rocket engine and a precision guidance system, the range can be increased to 70 km, writes New Atlas. That's not bad, but if you want more, you can install a ramjet engine, as Tiberius Aerospace did.

A field artillery gun expels a projectile from the barrel with gases. As soon as the projectile leaves the barrel, it moves in a ballistic arc at a speed of about 830 m/s and drops when air resistance takes over. Some projectiles enhanced by rocket engines can receive additional acceleration, but only for a limited time. A ramjet engine (RAMJET) turns a projectile into an aircraft capable of stable flight. The initial acceleration is provided by the howitzer, but after ignition, the RAMJET begins to create stable thrust for a longer time, compared to rocket engines. This significantly increases the range of the projectile, allowing it to fly at supersonic speeds and at high altitude.

The Sceptre TRBM 155HG ammunition is designed for a standard 155 mm artillery piece. The claimed flight range is 140-160 km, with a maximum speed of 3.5 Mach numbers. The ceiling is 20,000 m, which allows the projectile to be removed from the range of electronic warfare devices. With high accuracy of hitting the target (an error of 5 m), it means that the mass of the explosive can be reduced to 5.2 kg.

Altitude is especially important because the Sceptre is a high—precision projectile with a hybrid GPS/inertial guidance system and advanced guidance correction using artificial intelligence that can hit a target with an error of 16 feet (5 m). Flying at high altitude takes Sceptre out of range of electronic warfare devices. In addition, the ability to maintain such precision means that it can manage an explosive payload of only 11.5 pounds (5.2 kg).

Sceptre runs on liquid fuel and is compatible with diesel fuel and JP-4 and JP-8 jet rocket fuel. The company claims that the projectile has passed field tests in the United States, and its cost is significantly cheaper than that of missiles of comparable range.

The American military industrial company Northrop Grumman is developing a multi-level layered protection system against UAV attacks, the main element of which should be a chain gun loaded with homing ammunition. The system will save millions of dollars due to the low cost of a shot compared to conventional air defense systems.

China has made a breakthrough: artillery drones have been successfully tested after 12 years of development

After more than a decade of research, technical difficulties and skepticism from experts, China has successfully tested a fundamentally new class of military technologies — artillery drones** capable of withstanding extreme loads when firing 155 mm guns. These drones were created with the aim of revolutionizing the battlefield by combining the capabilities of drones and the power of modern artillery.

The tests were conducted at the Western test base and included five live firings, during which it was confirmed that the drones are capable of withstanding a launch impact load exceeding their own weight by 3,000 times. For comparison, this is equivalent to a human carrying a mass equal to 35 adult African elephants and still remaining functional.

These drones are designed to cover distances of more than 10 km in a matter of seconds, maintaining stability and controllability even after exposure to ultra-high G-forces when fired. This opens up new horizons for the use of UAVs as part of ground forces, allowing them to be used for reconnaissance, fire correction, or even the delivery of ammunition in intense combat.

The development of such systems began about 12 years ago, when Chinese engineers first thought about whether it was possible to combine lightweight drone designs with harsh artillery conditions. Many experts initially considered this idea impossible, but now China is showing real technological success.

This breakthrough could dramatically change the approach to using drones on the battlefield and make them full-fledged elements of hybrid warfare combining high mobility, precision and firepower. Given the active development of military technology in China, such drones can become a key element of the future army of a new generation.

China has developed a system to turn artillery shells into precision-guided planning bombs for drones

 China is converting 155 mm and 152mm artillery shells into precision-guided planning bombs ready for use by kamikaze drones.

According to photos posted on social media in May 2025, a Chinese defense company has developed an advanced modular system capable of converting standard 155 mm and 152mm artillery shells into precision-guided gliding bombs. The images show artillery shells equipped with sophisticated aerodynamic kits, including folding wings, tail stabilizers, and a nose guidance module. This innovation marks a significant leap in adapting to combat, allowing conventional artillery ammunition to be launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, or airplanes as long-range precision weapons.

An artillery shell converted into a gliding aerial bomb