Finland Secures $70M Deal for M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits

The U.S. Department of State has approved the sale of modernized M1156A1 precision guidance systems for artillery ammunition to Finland.

This was reported by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The Finnish government has requested the purchase of 5,500 M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) multifunctional fuzes, as well as hardware and software.

The estimated cost of the sale, including related services, is $70 million. The main contractor will be the system manufacturer, Northrop Grumman.

M1156A1

The Precision Guidance Kit (M1156) is a “smart” fuze that screws into conventional 155 mm ammunition instead of a conventional fuze and turns it into a high-precision fuze.

The PGK design includes a GPS receiver for targeting, as well as aerodynamic rudders that adjust the flight path.

The GPS receiver allows the on-board computer to compare the trajectory of the projectile with the coordinates of the place where it is supposed to hit.

If the shell misses the target by more than 150 meters, the fuze will not activate, and the shell will not explode. This solution is designed to ensure that modernized ammunition can be used against targets located near friendly units.

The modernized M1156A1 bombers began entering service with the United States Army in 2021. Their feature is their compatibility with long-range active-reactive artillery shells.

The new modules are expected to enhance accuracy. When used with the long-range M1128 and M1113 shells, the module should achieve a circular error probable of 10 meters at distances of 30 and 40 kilometers. This accuracy is based on a shot fired from a gun with a barrel length of 39 calibers.

For comparison, the original PGK module is supposed to provide a probable circular deviation of 50 meters at a distance of up to 30 km. The deviation for conventional projectiles at this distance can reach 273 meters.

The United States has recently agreed to sell thousands of conventional M1156 kits to Denmark for $85 million.