Orbital ATK to produce more PGKs
Orbital ATK will produce artillery precision guidance kits (PGK) for the US military under a $69 million contract option awarded by the US government, announced on 4 August.
PGK combines guidance and fuse function for 155mm conventional artillery projectiles into one device. Replacing a standard fuse with Orbital ATK's guidance fuse greatly increases the accuracy of artillery projectiles and significantly reduces the risk of collateral damage.
The design features a fixed-canard guidance approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply. PGK performs all standard fuse functions while also incorporating a ‘fail safe’ option, preventing the projectile from detonating if it does not get close enough to its target.
Orbital ATK recently completed an initial PGK production run which passed a series of nine separate lot acceptance tests that demonstrated PGK's reliability to guide the round while in flight and perform all fuse functions correctly under extreme environmental conditions.
The company is now delivering to the US military under full-rate production; this second option will see delivery continue through 2019.
More from Land Warfare
-
Thales outlines Bushmaster offering for UK requirement
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) achieved some clarity at DVD this week. Thales was just one company pushing itself forward for what will be a hotly contested requirement with a focus on what the bids will mean for UK industry.
-
Moog rolls out offering for UK GBAD requirement
The Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) is a modular remote weapons station designed to counter a wide spectrum of threats ranging from enemy infantry and armoured vehicles, to helicopters and UAS. Manufacturer Moog is promoting it for the UK’s GBAD requirement.
-
Jackal 3 in full-scale production as 53 more are ordered by British Army
Babcock will build an additional 53 High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Jackal 3s for the British Army in partnership with Supacat.
-
Boxer continues swinging with the announcement of three key milestones in the next four months
The UK’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme appears set for a busy four months of success as the Boxer continues to deliver and be delivered. In an announcement at DVD 2024, the UK Boxer programme is set to see its final prototype vehicle, the first UK-produced serial vehicle, and initial conversion training by the British Army start by January 2025.
-
Paramount supplies Maatla vehicles to Ghana
Paramount’s Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market and the announcement of deliveries to Ghana means, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is known to be in service with two African countries.
-
Major call for shift towards defence-focused advanced manufacturing practices made at DVD 2024
Defence leaders called on the industry to be more proactive in supply chain design, but noted that while the use of modern technological solutions to streamline the supply chain was vital, it could have significant downstream societal consequences.