The kit converts conventional high-explosive projectiles into guided weapons without requiring armies to purchase entirely new rounds. Northrop Grumman is positioning the system for the U.S. Army and allied forces operating in contested electronic environments.
PGK E5 has a threshold accuracy of 50 meters circular error probable and an objective of less than 30 meters. The company said the system is designed to provide reliable first-round precision in GPS-degraded conditions.
The M1156E5 retains the form factor and mass of the standard Precision Guidance Kit. It fits a NATO-standard deep-intrusion fuze well and is compatible with JBMOU-compliant 155 mm projectiles.
The system combines guidance, fuzing and control functions in one unit. It generates its own electrical power, requires no battery and has a 20-year shelf life.
Northrop Grumman plans to manufacture PGK E5 using the production line, suppliers and resources already supporting the standard PGK. Reusing the existing industrial base is intended to control costs and support faster production of the updated configuration.
The design has a reliability objective of 98% and builds on a product family with more than 100,000 standard PGKs produced. Northrop Grumman describes the existing system as combat-proven.
Greater accuracy is intended to reduce the number of rounds needed to achieve the required effect on a target. It can also reduce the risk of collateral damage compared with conventional unguided artillery fire.
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Army are continuing to invest in improvements to the Precision Guidance Kit. Their work is focused on maintaining artillery performance across a wider range of operating and electronic-warfare conditions.
