Digital Howitzer Sight

The present fire control sights on U.S. howitzers are optical instruments that require manual leveling, manual input of fire commands, optical reference to a collimator or other reference point to determine weapon azimuth, and reference to a bubble vial for weapon elevation. This manual operation requires significant operator skill to accomplish in an accurate and timely manner, and requires additional verification to preclude accidentally firing on friendly units. As the Army moves to an increasingly Digitized battlefield, this present manual artillery fire control sight will be the limiting element in the requirement to conduct responsive, effective, and safe fire support. It is proposed that a Digital Howitzer Sight (DHS) be developed that can be retrofitted onto existing towed and self-propelled howitzers with minimal modification to the existing weapon. The DHS will provide for one-man-one-sight aiming and elevating of the howitzer (one man lay) and the optical sight should facilitate direct fire out to ranges of 2000 meters.