Northrop Grumman Selected for Precision-Guidance Conversion of Artillery Shells

February 14, 2025—Northrop Grumman Corp has been awarded a contract by U.S. Army explosives specialists to supply precision-guidance kits that will modify standard 155-millimeter artillery shells into GPS-guided smart munitions. This $19.8 million order, confirmed by Army officials in Newark, N.J., will enhance the combat effectiveness of the artillery used by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Details on the Precision Guidance Kit

The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) from Northrop Grumman converts existing high-explosive artillery projectiles into cost-effective precision-guided munitions. Utilizing signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS), the PGK enables artillery shells to strike targets with impressive accuracy, guiding them to within 10 meters of their intended destinations.

The PGK is designed as a fuze-sized guidance kit that installs into the fuze well of the artillery shell, providing traditional fuze functions alongside its guidance capabilities, such as height-of-burst and point detonation.

All-Weather Capability

This innovative kit equips maneuvering forces with precision targeting ability that operates effectively under various weather conditions, bridging the gap between conventional artillery and modern smart munitions.

Northrop Grumman will execute the contract’s requirements in Plymouth, Minnesota, with completion expected by May 2028. For further inquiries, you can visit Northrop Grumman’s Armament Systems and Ammunition page at Northrop Grumman Armament Systems or the Army Contracting Command at Army Contracting Command.

About the Author

John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine, where he has been covering the electronic and optoelectronic technologies relevant to military and aerospace applications since 1989.

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