Orbital to continue PGK production for US
Orbital ATK has signed a contract worth $120 million for additional production of the Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) with the US Army for 155mm artillery, the company announced on 9 March. The deliveries are scheduled to start in early 2016.
The Low Rate Initial Production started in January 2015. Under this contract, the company will carry out production, lot acceptance testing and delivery of the guidance fuzes for the US and select allied armies.
Dan Olson, vice president and general manager, armament systems division of Defense Systems Group, Orbital ATK, said: ‘This contract signing marks another significant milestone for the PGK programme. 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.’
The PGK is a guidance fuze that can be fitted within the fuze well of 155mm high-explosive artillery projectiles. The fuze then performs in-flight course corrections to reduce artillery dispersion. According to the company, the PGK will reduce normal artillery dispersion from over 200m to less than 30m.
Orbital ATK’s design features a fixed-canard guidance and control approach, a self-generated power supply and gun-hardened electronics. The PGK performs all the standard fuze functions and also includes a fail-safe that prevents the round from detonating if it is not close enough to the target.
More from Land Warfare
-
![FNSS advances Indonesian Kaplan APC programme as local production expands]()
FNSS advances Indonesian Kaplan APC programme as local production expands
FNSS and PT Pindad are progressing the Indonesian tracked armoured personnel carrier programme as local production gets under way.
-
![British Army's open plan draws diverse offerings for Land Rover replacement]()
British Army's open plan draws diverse offerings for Land Rover replacement
The UK Ministry of Defence has avoided being prescriptive in its search to replace the British Army’s Land Rover, meaning vehicle types being offered range from Land Rover Defender Wolf II and Humvee to the hybrid series Fering Pioneer. What does this mean for the procurement process?
-
![DVD 2026: British Army’s Ajax back in the hands of users as part of a gradual return]()
DVD 2026: British Army’s Ajax back in the hands of users as part of a gradual return
The introduction of Ajax vehicles into British Army service was stopped after operator health issues were reported during an exercise, but manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems UK believes work over the past 10 months has dealt with the problems.
-
![Europe commits to long-range fires but countries move in different directions]()
Europe commits to long-range fires but countries move in different directions
Sweden, Croatia and France are pursuing different rocket artillery solutions as European armies seek greater reach, survivability and industrial resilience.
