At LAAD 2015, Orbital ATK presents two solutions for the Brazilian Army: The Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) and the 30 mm MK44 canon.
ATK and the US Army just recently signed a U$120 million Precision Guidance Fuze production contract for additional production of the Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) for 155mm artillery. Once fielded to the soldier, PGK will transform conventional 155mm artillery projectiles into a near precision weapon reliably reducing normal artillery dispersion of more than 200m to less than 30 meters. This transformation allows highly responsive and precise use of artillery on the modern battlefield.
The $120 million contract calls for the production, lot acceptance testing and delivery of the guidance fuzes for fielding to US and select allied armies. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2016 without a production break from the Low Rate Initial Production which began in January 2015.
“This contract signing marks another significant milestone for the PGK programme,” said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Armament Systems division of the Defense Systems Group. “Fielding PGK for use with existing artillery projectiles provides soldiers with a distinct battlefield advantage by greatly reducing the inherent dispersion associated with conventional artillery. As a proven and qualified technology, the next step is growing PGK into future precision applications for either existing or new direct and indirect fire weapons systems.”
PGK is a guidance fuze that fits within the fuze well of 155mm high-explosive artillery projectiles, performing in-flight course corrections to greatly reduce artillery dispersion. The Orbital ATK design features a fixed-canard guidance and control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply. PGK performs all standard fuze functions while also incorporating a “fail-safe” option, preventing a PGK-equipped artillery round from detonating if it does not get close enough to the target.
Today’s battlefield is ever-changing in terms of terrain and engagement criteria. Reducing the risk of friendly and civilian casualties and collateral damage to infrastructure is critical. This combination of constraints often restricts ground commander’s options and sometimes limits use of artillery to engage critical targets.
PGK’s ability to reliably reduce artillery dispersion provides the solider a level of precision necessary to greatly reduce the risk of collateral damage and put artillery back into the fight. Orbital ATK supplied PGK for use in Afghanistan for training and tactical operations via an urgent materiel release in March 2013. In December 2014, PGK passed First Article Acceptance Testing. A similar system is also available for 120mm mortar ammunition.
The Orbital ATK 30mm MK44 BUSHMASTER chain gun automatic cannon will be used in one of the four different turrets for the GUARANI 8x8. The BUSHMASTER is also capable of firing the new programmable air burst ammunition. The first 60 cannons are already delivered, with 60 more to come. The cannon can fire all 30mm x173 mm and 30mm x 170 Rarden & KCB, has a 60% logistics commonality with the M242 (thousands of them are in use) and low life cycle costs. ATK is also offering the 30mm airburst ammunition, but there is no decision taken yet.
ATK and the US Army just recently signed a U$120 million Precision Guidance Fuze production contract for additional production of the Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) for 155mm artillery. Once fielded to the soldier, PGK will transform conventional 155mm artillery projectiles into a near precision weapon reliably reducing normal artillery dispersion of more than 200m to less than 30 meters. This transformation allows highly responsive and precise use of artillery on the modern battlefield.
The $120 million contract calls for the production, lot acceptance testing and delivery of the guidance fuzes for fielding to US and select allied armies. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2016 without a production break from the Low Rate Initial Production which began in January 2015.
“This contract signing marks another significant milestone for the PGK programme,” said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Armament Systems division of the Defense Systems Group. “Fielding PGK for use with existing artillery projectiles provides soldiers with a distinct battlefield advantage by greatly reducing the inherent dispersion associated with conventional artillery. As a proven and qualified technology, the next step is growing PGK into future precision applications for either existing or new direct and indirect fire weapons systems.”
PGK is a guidance fuze that fits within the fuze well of 155mm high-explosive artillery projectiles, performing in-flight course corrections to greatly reduce artillery dispersion. The Orbital ATK design features a fixed-canard guidance and control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply. PGK performs all standard fuze functions while also incorporating a “fail-safe” option, preventing a PGK-equipped artillery round from detonating if it does not get close enough to the target.
Today’s battlefield is ever-changing in terms of terrain and engagement criteria. Reducing the risk of friendly and civilian casualties and collateral damage to infrastructure is critical. This combination of constraints often restricts ground commander’s options and sometimes limits use of artillery to engage critical targets.
PGK’s ability to reliably reduce artillery dispersion provides the solider a level of precision necessary to greatly reduce the risk of collateral damage and put artillery back into the fight. Orbital ATK supplied PGK for use in Afghanistan for training and tactical operations via an urgent materiel release in March 2013. In December 2014, PGK passed First Article Acceptance Testing. A similar system is also available for 120mm mortar ammunition.
The Orbital ATK 30mm MK44 BUSHMASTER chain gun automatic cannon will be used in one of the four different turrets for the GUARANI 8x8. The BUSHMASTER is also capable of firing the new programmable air burst ammunition. The first 60 cannons are already delivered, with 60 more to come. The cannon can fire all 30mm x173 mm and 30mm x 170 Rarden & KCB, has a 60% logistics commonality with the M242 (thousands of them are in use) and low life cycle costs. ATK is also offering the 30mm airburst ammunition, but there is no decision taken yet.