Replacing standard fuzing for existing artillery projectiles, Precision Guidance Kits (PGKs) from Northrop Grumman Corp. have demonstrated the value of upgrading existing weapons arsenals with modern technology. Over 100,000 PGKs have been delivered to the U.S. Army to add Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite guidance capabilities to conventional 155-mm artillery projectiles. Each PGK contains an integrated electronic device that combines fuze functions and GPS guidance, and it fits easily into artillery fuze wells.
Dave Fine, Northrop Grumman’s vice president for armament systems, said, “PGKs' precision provides a critical capability to artillery units, enabling forces to rapidly achieve mission success by reducing the number of rounds required to defeat targets.” He added, “Throughout our 100,000 deliveries, we’ve maintained superior performance, surpassing the Army’s objectives for both accuracy and reliability.”
Even as the PGKs were being installed to upgrade artillery rounds, Northrop Grumman was enhancing its latest PGKs. A built-in selectable safety feature prevents detonation if the PGK calculates that the projectile will exceed its selected miss distance according to its in-progress flight pattern. The company also is adding GPS M-Code capabilities to the PGKs to defend against threats against the use and accuracy of its GPS guidance, such as jamming signals. The newest versions of the PGKs will enable acquisition of two GPS signals for enhanced positioning accuracy and jamming resistance.