The U.S. State Department has given the green light to a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Denmark, approving the purchase of Precision Guidance Kits (PGK) and associated logistics and program support. The sale, estimated at $85 million, includes up to 5,832 M1156 PGKs, along with ancillary items, technical assistance, and new equipment training. The Royal Danish Army’s enhanced artillery capabilities are expected to improve their ability to meet current and future threats, reinforcing Denmark’s role as a stable NATO ally in Europe. The M1156 PGK is a sophisticated U.S. Army-designed system aimed at converting conventional 155 mm artillery shells into precision-guided munitions. Originally produced by Alliant Techsystems, and now under Northrop Grumman following several mergers, this system adds GPS guidance and control surfaces to artillery rounds, allowing for significantly improved accuracy.
Since its initial fielding in 2013, over 25,000 PGKs have been produced, demonstrating the system’s importance in modernizing artillery forces. The PGK transforms standard artillery rounds, such as the M549A1 and M795, into precision weapons, reducing the risk of collateral damage and friendly fire. It offers a more cost-effective alternative to purpose-built guided shells like the M982 Excalibur. The system is compatible with a wide range of artillery platforms, including the M109A6 Paladin and M777A2 Howitzer. One of the PGK’s key features is its ability to adjust the projectile’s trajectory in-flight using small aerodynamic fins. The system employs a GPS receiver to guide the shell, ensuring it lands within 50 meters of the target. In the event that the PGK detects it will miss the intended target by more than 150 meters, it will deactivate, preventing unnecessary explosions.
In 2022, Northrop Grumman Corporation has surpassed the production and delivery of more than 100,000 Precision Guidance Kits (PGK) for 155mm artillery projectiles. A U.S. Army program, PGK replaces standard fuzing for conventional projectiles currently in inventory, transforming them into GPS-guided, precision weapons. Recently, the company incorporated user feedback to add a built-in, selectable, safety feature that prevents detonation if the PGK predicts the projectile will exceed the selected miss distance while in flight. The company is also nearing completion of the necessary qualification events to implement GPS M-Code, which will allow PGK to defend against existing and emerging threats to GPS, such as jamming. Once implemented, PGK will be one of the largest production programs within the U.S. Department of Defense to integrate this crucial capability that allows authorized users to acquire two signals from GPS satellites to achieve superior positioning accuracy.
This capability will greatly enhance Denmark’s artillery precision, allowing for more effective first strikes in its brigades. It also underscores the continued cooperation between the United States and Denmark in bolstering the latter’s defense capabilities. Northrop Grumman, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, will serve as the principal contractor for this sale. Denmark’s integration of these precision kits is not expected to alter the military balance in the region but will reinforce its ability to protect its interests while remaining a crucial ally within NATO. In a demonstration of the system’s versatility, the PGK was successfully integrated with German DM111 shells in 2014, fired from a PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer. The test results were impressive, with 90 percent of the rounds landing within 5 meters of the target from a distance of 27 kilometers. Denmark is expected to benefit similarly from this precision technology as it modernizes its artillery forces to meet evolving security challenges.
