MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- ATK and the U.S. military have completed artillery precision guidance kit testing at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona to verify precision fuse design.
ATK said 48 rounds were fired and the Precision Guidance Kit significantly exceeded expectations and requirements for both reliability and safety while demonstrating accuracy that exceeds the 30-yard Circle Error Probable objective requirement.
During this end of Phase 3 test, structured to challenge PGK in the harshest gun launch environments, PGK demonstrated consistent, reliable performance following tactical vibration and temperature conditioning in extreme heat and cold environments, the company said.
PGK-fused rounds were fired from both the M109 Paladin 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer and the M777A2 155mm Lightweight Towed Howitzer to ensure consistent performance across platforms.
The results prove PGK's ability to dependably guide 155mm artillery projectiles over the operational envelope tested, significantly exceeding both Phase 3 reliability requirements as well as objective accuracy requirements, ATK said.
"PGK's performance in this rigorous design verification testing surpassed expectations and demonstrates that PGK will perform as expected in combat conditions," said Bruce DeWitt, vice president and general manager for ATK Advanced Weapons division.
PGK is a low-cost, guided fuse that fits within the deep intrusion fuse well of U.S. high-explosive artillery projectiles. PGK performs in-flight course corrections that greatly reduce artillery dispersion.
The ATK design features a Global Positioning System-based, fixed-canard guidance and control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply.
