Northrop Grumman to Produce PGK E5 Artillery Guidance Kits

Northrop Grumman Corporation will manufacture the PGK E5, the next-generation evolution of the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), designed to maintain artillery indirect fire capabilities for the U.S. Army and allied militaries under GPS-degraded operating conditions. Screwed into existing conventional 155 mm high-explosive projectile inventories, the guidance module converts unguided artillery shells into GPS-guided precision munitions to engage targets across contested battlefield environments.

Anti-Jam Technology and Test Performance
The system integrates advanced anti-jam electronics engineered to counter emerging electronic warfare and radio-frequency denial threats. The upgrade retains the physical form factor, mechanical fit, reliability, and handling procedures of the fielded baseline PGK.

During evaluations conducted under GPS-degraded test conditions, the kit achieved accuracy metrics that surpassed specified threshold and objective requirements. This precision performance aims to lower the total rounds required per engagement, reduce collateral damage, and improve operational survivability.

"With decades of proven performance and growing production, PGK continues to deliver reliable, mission-ready technology that warfighters can count on," stated Dave Fine, Vice President of Armament Systems at Northrop Grumman.

Manufacturing Operations and Compatibility
Developed in partnership with the U.S. Army, the guidance kit functions with fielded 155 mm howitzer platforms and existing inventory shells without requiring system modifications, which limits operator retraining requirements and supports rapid field integration. Production is sited at Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing plant in Plymouth, Minnesota, with initial equipment shipments slated to begin in early 2028.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications not included in the original news release.

Artillery course-correction fuzes such as the M1156 PGK replace standard point-detonating or multi-option fuzes within NATO-standard four-inch deep-cavity projectile wells (MIL-STD-331). The guidance system operates using fixed canards driven by an internal differential alternator; the aerodynamic roll of the spinning projectile spins an internal induction generator, providing self-contained electrical power without requiring active chemical batteries. To overcome severe jamming and spoofing, next-generation guidance electronics utilize M-code GPS receiver architectures alongside Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM) and multi-element Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA) that perform digital adaptive spatial beamforming to nullify directional interference sources. Operating environments demand high-G gun-hardened microelectronics capable of surviving dynamic setback accelerations exceeding 15,000 g to 20,000 g and angular spin rates above 250 to 300 revolutions per second during bore transit in 39-caliber and 52-caliber ordnance tubes. Precision course adjustments typically reduce standard artillery circular error probable (CEP) dispersion from over 200–300 meters at maximum range down to under 10 meters, incorporating fail-safe mid-trajectory proximity logic that disarms the high-explosive main charge if the projectile’s calculated point of impact diverges beyond a predetermined safety threshold.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.