US Army buys more precision-guidance kits for 155mm artillery
US Army personnel tightening an M1156 PGK on a 155mm shell during an exercise in the Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany. (Photo: US Army)
M1156 PGKs transform conventional 155mm high-explosive rounds into GPS-guided munitions.
Northrop Grumman is providing additional M1156 Precision Guidance Kits (PGKs) for artillery systems operated by the US Army, under a new $74.68 million contract modification announced by the DoD on 26 May.
Work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of 28 July 2027.
M1156 PGKs transform unguided 155mm high-explosive rounds (from artillery systems such as the M777 towed howitzer or the M109 tracked self-propelled gun) into GPS-guided munitions.
The PGK fits in the fuze well of the projectile. It performs in-flight course corrections that help to reduce dispersion of conventional artillery projectiles to 30m or less and enable more accurate artillery usage.
The PGK design features a fixed-canard guidance and control approach with a self-generated power supply and with gun-hardened electronics. The fuze performs all standard functions and also includes a 'fail safe' option in which a PGK-equipped artillery round will not detonate if it is not close enough to the target.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Norway orders improved NASAMS technology as more countries sign up]()
Norway orders improved NASAMS technology as more countries sign up
The country’s air defence batteries will be equipped with new command posts, wheeled communication nodes and radios. The system itself is in service with more than 14 countries with 13 systems in Ukraine.
-
![Ukraine’s ground robot army still finding its feet]()
Ukraine’s ground robot army still finding its feet
Ukraine’s quest to replace soldiers with robots is hitting technical snags. Shephard spoke with industry leaders about difficulties in the field and what solutions are in the pipeline.
-
![DOK-ING presents CUAS MV-8 armed with Valhalla Mangart 25 turret]()
DOK-ING presents CUAS MV-8 armed with Valhalla Mangart 25 turret
The partnership between Croatia’s DOK-ING and Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets reflects an effort to combine ground robots and with improved capabilities and new roles and follows Rheinmetall presenting its Ox with Dispatch charging docks from Valinor.
-
![British Army vehicle programme may be shifting gears again]()
British Army vehicle programme may be shifting gears again
The UK’s effort to replace thousands of vehicles across a dozen base vehicle types has had a troubled history and statements from the UK’s Defence Minster Luke Pollard indicate change may be on the way.
-
![EOS improving Slinger CUAS role as industry pushes forward]()
EOS improving Slinger CUAS role as industry pushes forward
EOS Defence Systems officially launched its Slinger anti-drone system in 2023. The system features a remote weapon station, visual sensors and a Northrop Grumman 30mm cannon with specially designed ammunition, combined with EOS’s stabilisation and pointing technology.
