ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A program to develop a rifled, precision extended-range mortar for the U.S. Marine Corps is being undertaken by ATK.
ATK, which will act as prime contractor on the $14.3 million contract, said that with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems the mortar it will develop and demonstrate will provide accuracy within 65.6 circular error feet through the use of its proven precision guidance fuse technology and the GD-OTS' extended-range rifled mortar energetic sub-systems developed during the PERM Technical Demonstration program.
Following demonstration the mortar would enter rapid production and fielding.
"This best-in-class combination provides the most reliable and affordable path to achieve the Marine Corps' objective of fielding a precision mortar," said Bruce DeWitt, vice president and general manager for ATK Armament Systems Division.
"Using mature, proven technologies also significantly reduces development time, which we've proven by using our precision guidance kit technology to deliver -- in one year's time -- a fully qualified, precision mortar to meet the U.S. Army's aggressive Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative."
