ATK SHOWS OFF ARTILLERY AND MISSILE CAPABILITIES
By Julian Nettlefold, Editor, BATTLESPACE
12 Sep 07. Jack Cronin the new President of ATK’s Mission Systems segment showed BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold an impressive array of new technologies which were aimed at the U.K. market in particular. ATK’s Mission Systems business composes one third of the total ATK revenue and has 16,500 employees and revenues of $1.6bn from a Group total of $3.6bn. The other segments are Space Systems making large composite systems; Land Systems manufacturing ammunition; Aerospace which makes special composite structures and nacelles and Weapons which makes motors and sub-assemblies for many missile systems including AMRAAM, Brimstone, Sidewinder, AIM 9-X, TOW and Hellfire.
Precision Guidance Kit (PGK)
In 2006, ATK Mission Systems was awarded one of two technology demonstration contracts from the U.S. Army to develop a Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) for the 155mm Howitzer artillery system. PGK will make the stockpile of existing artillery ammunition significantly more effective at a relatively low cost by adding GPS guidance and navigation capability in a package that fits into the fuze well of an existing 155mm projectile.
ATK’s PGK solution, featuring a highly effective fixed-canard guidance approach, gun-hardened electronics, self-generated power, and a minimum number of moving parts, not only meets but exceeds program requirements for accuracy, effectiveness, range, and cost.
The ATK PGK industry team includes Rockwell Collins and Draper Laboratory.
The company won the contract in competition with eight other bidders including BAE Systems.
“PGK is the Army’s answer to JDAM, its accuracy is unsurpassed, its affordable precision. Fitting PGK allows users to use up stores of 155mm shells which, in today’s environment have been declared redundant due to fratricide concerns. PGK’s unique technology allows accuracy within a few yards, should the shell overshoot the stated target area it will be set to become redundant as the fuze shuts down. Deployment of PGK means a staggering 78% reduction in numbers and thus 78% more targets to engage. More accuracy means fewer guns, fewer shells, fewer trucks and thus the supply chain slips as does the required inventory. The system is also applicable to 105mm shells,” Cronin said
Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM)
The 120mm smooth-bore, semi-active laser Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM) looks, feels, and loads almost identically to the mortar system in service today. But as a precision-guided mortar munition, it is capable of defeating hardened and stationary targets with far fewer rounds, at greater ranges, and with much less collateral damage than current mortar ammunition.
PGMM addresses the need to provide coalition mobile assault battle units with an extended-range precision weapon they can quickly deploy against time-sensitive, protected threats — even in urban areas. The laser-guided PGMM is able to defeat bunkers, buildings, and light-armored vehicles with pinpoint accuracy. For all of its effectiveness, the PGMM is easy for the soldier to operate expeditiously and safely.
ATK’s PGMM design borrows from proven cannon-launched projectile technology and adds state-of-the-art seeker and guidance capability. Its elegantly simple design with few moving parts makes it affordable and will allow U.S. and allied forces to procure the weapon system in the quantities needed to have significant impact on the battlefield.
Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM)
ATK Mission Systems is developing the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), which will provide a vast improvement in the warfighters’ capability to destroy enemy air defenses and other time-critical, mobile targets, regardless of threat tactics and capabilities, while minimizing friendly fire and collateral damage.
The AARGM weapon is a medium range, supersonic, air-launched tactical