ATK tests artillery precision guidance kit

ATK has completed a precision guidance kit (PGK) engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase three design verification guided flight testing (GFT) at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, US.

During the 48-round test, PGK-fused rounds were fired from both the M109 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzer and the M777A2 155mm lightweight towed howitzer to check its performance across multiple platforms, as well as for reliability and safety.

ATK designed low-cost guided fuse demonstrated accuracy by exceeding the 30-metre circle error probable (CEP) objective requirement as well as phase three reliability requirements.

ATK Advanced Weapons division vice president and general manager Bruce DeWitt said: "PGK's performance in this rigorous design verification testing surpassed expectations and demonstrates that PGK will perform as expected in combat conditions."

PGK has been designed to fit within the deep intrusion fuse well of US high explosive artillery projectiles and features a GPS-based, fixed-canard guidance and control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply.

The Office of the Project Manager, Combat Ammunition Systems (OPM-CAS) also participated in the testing.