MINNEAPOLIS, March 24 (UPI) -- The U.S Army has given ATK of Minnesota a $50 million contract modification for more precision mortar guidance kits, the company announced.
The contract, given under the Army's Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative program, is in response to an Army urgent Operational Needs Statement and will mean more precision mortars going to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
ATK was awarded a contract last June to field an initial quantity of rounds under the Army's ONS.
Combining Global Positioning System guidance and directional control surfaces into a package that replaces standard fuses, the MGK transforms existing 120mm mortar bodies into precision guided munitions.
"Delivering affordable precision is a core capability of our business," said Bruce DeWitt, ATK Advanced Weapons vice president and general manager. "Using our expertise in guidance, fusing and gun-hardened electronics, we have proven that the timeline and cost of producing a precision weapon can be greatly reduced.
"In under a year, we have proven a reliable design, initiated production and fielded a precision weapon."
