The US Department of Defense has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. an USD862.8 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract for the manufacture, inspection, testing, packaging, and delivery of M1156 Precision Guidance Kits (PGK) and associated variants. Solicited via the internet with a single bid received, the contract activity is handled by the Army Contracting Command based in Newark, New Jersey, under contract designation W15QKN-26-D-A072. Specific work locations and funding allocations will be determined alongside each individual order, with an overall estimated completion date of 3 September 2031. Originally developed by the US Army and prime contractor Alliant Techsystems—which subsequently merged into Orbital ATK before being acquired by Northrop Grumman—the M1156 program is designed to transform standard 155 mm unguided artillery projectiles into cost-effective, GPS-guided smart munitions.
Threaded into the nose fuze well of conventional projectiles such as the M549A1 and M795, the 3 lb (1.4 kg) self-contained PGK unit incorporates a GPS guidance package, an internal flight-powered alternator, and small aerodynamic control fins. The system functions by comparing its flight trajectory against target coordinates and deploying its fins to dynamically correct its flight path. While standard unguided rounds exhibit a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of up to 267 m at maximum ranges, the M1156 significantly reduces dispersion to hit within 50 m of targets when fired from platforms like the M109A6 Paladin and M777A2 towed howitzers, and under 5 m during trials with German DM111 rounds fired from a PzH 2000. To mitigate collateral damage and friendly fire risks, the fuze features an integrated safety mechanism that evaluates expected impact accuracy five seconds after launch; if the shell is projected to land more than 150 m off-target, the round renders itself inert and will not detonate upon impact.
Building on the battle-tested architecture of the baseline PGK family—which has seen nearly 145,000 units delivered, an operational point reliability rate of 98% since entering service in 2013, and a 20-year shelf life—the program continues to advance through next-generation iterations such as the PGK E5. Designed specifically to maintain first-round fire accuracy with a CEP under 30 m in electronically contested environments, the PGK E5 integrates advanced anti-jam technology to counter emerging electronic warfare and GPS-degradation threats. By providing a scalable guidance solution that screws directly onto existing stockpile inventory, the kit offers a significantly lower unit cost compared to purpose-built guided shells like the M982 Excalibur, maximizing lethality and mission success without requiring extensive platform modifications or troop retraining.
This latest long-term acquisition deal underscores the US military’s ongoing commitment to upgrading its vast stockpiles of conventional 155 mm artillery ammunition while maintaining tactical superiority in high-intensity combat scenarios. By securing production continuity through 2031, Northrop Grumman will support both the US Army and international allied forces in sustaining modern field artillery capabilities against peer adversaries equipped with sophisticated counter-precision and jamming systems. The combination of anti-jam enhancements, rapid integration across standard NATO-standard artillery platforms, and the ability to leverage existing war reserve stockpiles positioning the PGK family as a critical pillar of western tube artillery modernization strategy.
The ID/IQ structure is worth highlighting: a contract ceiling is different from the value of orders actually placed. Tracking subsequent orders separately would give readers a clearer picture of procurement progress. It is also helpful to distinguish baseline PGK figures from those reported for later variants, so that performance claims are not inadvertently combined. Best wishes from the Gefechtsklar editorial team.