This reduces the time it takes for gun crews to prepare rounds for firing. Digital fuses also allow commanders to preset very complicated detonation patterns to suit the tactical situation. When combined with automatic loaders on self-propelled guns, digital fuse technologies offers the potential to further increase the rates of fire. Lethality has been increased considerably by the fielding of new generation cargo rounds, that can carry a variety of payloads. Hardware Increasing the performance of artillery tubes themselves has received much attention.
Kits are now available to increase the life of tubes by providing barrel linings.
Considerable effort has been put into improving the interface between the tubes themselves and automated fire control systems. The old dials to elevate and direct artillery tubes can now be replaced with digital-mechanical pointing systems that calculate angle and bearing automatically, as well as bring the tube to bear on the target. These systems also feature GPS surveying capabilities, meteorological inputs and barrel wear calculating capabilities. Self-propelled guns can receive a wide range of specialist upgrades to bring them up to the standard ofnew build equipment at relative low cost. These include integration of fire control, digital fuse setting, target pointing and automatic loading technologies.