US Army cannon capable of shooting projectiles 1,000 miles is set for testing in 2023
- US Army will test cannon in 2023 and determine if it can continue further testing
- Said it will cost just $400,000-$500,000 to make the firing rounds
- This is compared to the multimillion-dollar rounds the military is currently using
The US Army is developing a powerful cannon capable of shooting a projectile more than 1,150 miles – the same distance between Nashville, Tennessee and New York City.
The military agency is set to demonstrate a prototype of the long-range weapon in 2023 and will then determine if it is ready for further tests.
If successful, the war machine will give the US Arm an advantage it needs to measure up with major opponents like China and Russia who have invested more than $215 billion in military operations combined.
s
The US Army is developing a powerful cannon (stock photo) capable of shooting a projectile more than 1,150 miles – the same distance between Nashville, Tennessee and New York City
The Army has partnered with the Research and Analysis Center at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, as well as the Center for Army Analysis’ to confirm the service can accomplish what is expected from such a system,’ Col. John Rafferty, who is in charge of executing modernization efforts for the service’s top priority, long-range precision fires, told Defense News.
The US agency has set 2023 as its goal to test a prototype and following the event, the team will determine if they should move forward with a program of record.
Rafferty did note that the cannon will go through a range of ‘big technology gates’ and one will be completed ‘very soon’.
The first gate is said to be early ballistic tests and if successful, a report will be sent to Army higher ups for approval.

If successful, the war machine will give the US Arm an advantage it needs to measure up with major opponents like China (pictured) and Russia who have invested more than $215 billion in military operations combined
However, one of the main focuses is developing this technology in a way that is cost efficient.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville told Defense News in a recent interview that ‘A lot of that comes down to cost.’
‘If we are able to develop the strategic, long-range cannon system, the rounds may be only $400,000 or $500,000 compared to multimillion-dollar rounds,’ McConville continued.
‘Cost does matter, and we are concerned about cost.’
‘There are some, definitely, physics challenges in doing these types of things, and that is the trade-off.’
If this long-range cannon is successful, it will be the advantage the US Army needs against major opponents like China and Russia who have invested more than $215 billion in military operations combined.
Jen Judson with Defense News explained that each of the technology gates is designed to determine if the cannon is meeting ‘lethality and cost goals’.
‘This idea of volume and affordability and lethality is first and foremost in our minds,’ Rafferty said.
McConville added, ‘The Army is ‘trying to be innovative, but what they have to do is demonstrate the capability at each phase along the way.’
‘And if that doesn’t happen, we are not doing it.’