The Netherlands has ordered Raytheon's precision-guided Excalibur Ib artillery round, becoming the second European country to do so.

The Excalibur Ib is a 155mm, extended-range artillery shell that uses GPS guidance to provide accurate, first-round effects, and which is compatible for use with German-made PzH 2000 artillery systems.

The round, which been used by U.S. forces in combat, strikes less than 6.5 feet from its designated target and minimizes collateral damage.

The Netherlands is obtaining the munition under a U.S. Foreign Military Sales agreement.

"When fired from the Dutch PzH 2000 artillery system, Excalibur can fly up to 50 kilometers (31 miles), score a direct hit and deliver lethal effects in all types of weather and battlefield conditions," said Mark Hokeness, Raytheon's Excalibur program director. "The Netherlands joins a growing list of nations acquiring this highly sophisticated artillery munition, which uses GPS guidance to provide accurate, first-round effects capability at extended ranges."

Deliveries are expected to begin later this year.

The first European country to order the Excalibur Ib was Sweden.