Why US Army artillery needs a new Precision Guidance Kit
A new Precision Guidance Kit is being developed for use with the ERCA self-propelled howitzer system. (Photo: US Army)
Northrop Grumman Defense Systems has been awarded a US Army contract valued at $40,600,169 for development, qualification and production of the M1156E4 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK).
Current production versions of the M1156 are optimised for 155mm/39cal artillery systems including the M777 Light Towed Howitzer (LTH) and M109A6/A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer (SPH).
The M1156E4 is essentially an Engineering Change which will allow for projectiles fitted with the PGK to be fired from the new Watervliet 155mm/58cal Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) which will be fitted to the M109 series under a major upgrade.
ERCA has a larger chamber volume and fires
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Land Warfare
-
Eurosatory 2026: Vegvisir sets connectivity in contested environments in its sights
Maintaining connectivity in contested environments, where essential networks can easily be disrupted by enemy forces, has emerged as a key challenge in modern warfare. Estonian company Vegvisir aims to tackle that problem with a new Communications Module unveiled at Eurosatory.
-
Eurosatory 2026: AM General highlights UGV and JLTV A2
AM General is showcasing its autonomous ground vehicle and latest light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2026, highlighting counter-drone capabilities, modular mission systems and improvements in battlefield mobility.
-
Eurosatory 2026: Arclin and BSST unveil lighter EOD suit as bomb disposal market burgeons
Arclin and BSST have developed a lighter explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suit using Kevlar EXO technology to improve operator mobility while maintaining protection against fragmentation threats.
-
Eurosatory 2026: Updated S-KAPS ready to neutralise drone threat
Launched at EuroSatory 2026, the revamped Soft-Kill Advanced Protection System (S-KAPS) counter-UAS package has been developed by three French SMEs, Lacroix, Bertin Technologies and MC2 Technologies as a private venture.
-
Patria TRACKX: Designed to conquer the most challenging environments
The tracked all-terrain armoured vehicle Patria TRACKX is a promise of performance. It is engineered to navigate the toughest terrain silently and swiftly, ensuring smooth operations in any conditions.