IEC’s TruTrak Evolution GPS ReceiverAlliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) has announced its successful demonstration of the capability to divert a 105-millimeter (105mm) artillery round using its existing 155mm Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) with minimal modification to the current design.
Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) has announced its successful demonstration of the capability to divert a 105-millimeter (105mm) artillery round using its existing 155mm Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) with minimal modification to the current design.
Earlier this year, L3/Interstate Electronic Corporation (IEC) announced that ATK had selected IEC’s new TruTrak Evolution GPS receiver for the Army’s PGK program. The TruTrak Evolution is a 24-channel L1/L2 GPS SAASM receiver that can process C/A- and encrypted P(Y)-code signals and provides rapid direct Y-code acquisition when keyed
and initialized.
ATK recently conducted tests of the PGK on M927 rounds at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. According to the company, the tests verified that the ATK-designed PGK provides more than twice the control authority necessary to meet the 105mm performance requirements. The tests were funded internally by the company to demonstrate the robust design capability of the PGK.
Already proven on the 155-mm howitzer, the 105mm PGK incorporates 99 percent of the existing 155mm PGK design, ATK says. The only difference is a single mechanical part.
The high degree of commonality provides a low-risk approach that significantly reduces development and qualification costs, as well as the schedule to field a 105mm PGK, according to ATK.
The XM1156 PGK Program, managed by the Army’s Combat Ammunition Systems at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, will replace NATO standard height of burst and point detonation fuzes on existing stockpiled artillery ammunition. The kit improves projectile accuracy by coupling GPS technology with ATK’s fixed canard guidance system. GPS provides location and time during flight and ATK’s guidance, navigation, and control approach determines trajectory and makes in-flight corrections to the target.
According to the PGK program manager, Russell Hill, PGK technology can be applied to literally millions of existing 155mm and 105mm projectiles that are used by howitzers and towed artillery pieces. ATK competed for and won the system design and development (SDD) contract for the 155mm PGK in May 2007.
