Heavy Artillery
This is the cannon that Sen. Jim Inhofe (pictured) has been trying for years to get to Fort Sill. It’s not there yet, but a prototype was on display on the National Mall this week, and Inhofe, R-Tulsa, was there to welcome it.
The cannon will ultimately replace the one that’s been used by the U.S. Army for decades. Fort Sill, the Army’s domestic artillery training base, will get the cannon once it’s in production. Some final assembly will be done in Elgin, which is near Fort Sill.
The cannon is part of the Army’s Future Combat System, which is aimed at using technology to connect a system of manned and unmanned ground vehicles and other weapons systems.
A few years ago, Inhofe was outraged when former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld cancelled the Crusader system, which was supposed to be the replacement cannon. The secretary decided it was too big and heavy and not practical for an Army that was supposed to get more mobile and nimble.
After fighting the cancellation, Inhofe and former Rep. J.C. Watts decided to push for a substitute cannon. That was the on the Mall last week.
Inhofe said last week that “the cancellation of Crusader was a blessing in disguise. We took all we had learned about building 21st century artillery and moved it into the concept of the Future Combat System.
“Now it is a critical element of networked platforms, which will revolutionize ground warfare by providing unparalleled access of information to our soldiers. Future Combat Systems pushes the envelope of land warfare.”
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