The contract is valued at over USD 40.6 million and encompasses the development, testing, production, and implementation of the new variant of the PGK, designated as M1156E4 (which will be designated as M1156A4 upon entering service).
The work will be carried out at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Plymouth, Minnesota. As per the agreement, the work specified in the contract is expected to be completed by 31 March 2026. The contract is overseen by the United States Army Contracting Command in Newark, New Jersey.
The PGK kit guides 155mm artillery projectiles using the signals from the GPS satellite navigation system, and the new version aims to be more resilient to interference compared to the previous M1156 variant. It is also designed to be compatible with extended-range projectiles fired from guns with a barrel length of 58 calibers and an enlarged ammunition chamber (such as the XM1113 projectile for the XM1299 self-propelled howitzer).
This will further enhance the effectiveness of the United States Army’s artillery by maintaining high precision in hitting targets at significantly longer ranges. Older versions allowed for effective use up to approximately 30 km, while long-range 155mm ammunition programs require high accuracy (circular error probable, or CEP, below 30 m) for engagements at distances of 70 km and beyond (up to 130 km, depending on the projectile type).
