ATK Receives $5 Million Award for US Army's Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI)
Alliant Techsystems has received a $5 million contract from the US Army for the first phase of the Army's Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI).
ATK is one of three companies selected for the first phase of the competition. Phase one consists of a three month design, maturation and demonstration program aimed at developing a precision mortar capability. The first phase concludes with flight tests and a competitive "shoot off" amongst industry designs.
Prior to winning the award, ATK successfully concluded a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) flight test program of its Mortar Guidance Kit (MGK) design. ATK's MGK design demonstrated its ability to accurately and reliably guide a 120mm mortar to within 10 meters of targets at ranges in excess of 6,500 meters.
"Our MGK design leverages our proven Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) technology and production facilities already in place for 155mm artillery to quickly deliver an affordable, low risk, precision 120mm mortar capability to the field," said Jack Cronin, President, ATK Mission Systems. "Most importantly, the recent CRADA tests demonstrated that our MGK technology is mature enough to meet our warfighter's urgent operational needs."
ATK's MGK converts M934 mortar bodies into affordable, precision mortar rounds by adding GPS guidance and navigation capability in a package that replaces standard fuzes in the mortar's fuze well. Based on ATK's PGK for 155mm artillery, MGK has more than 90 percent commonality with PGK. The manufacturing of MGK can be accomplished using the ATK PGK production line, providing a rapid low-risk path to fielding.
The US Army is sponsoring APMI to meet operational needs for a precision, 120mm mortar capability for reliable and lethal response to enemy engagements - especially in mountainous terrain inaccessible to artillery. A precision guided mortar provides field commanders with indirect fire capability to successfully engage targets while mitigating collateral damage. Additionally, greater accuracy reduces the number of rounds required to successfully defeat targets while reducing in-theater logistical requirements.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Land forces review: howitzers in the spotlight and Germany spends big to close the year]()
Land forces review: howitzers in the spotlight and Germany spends big to close the year
December saw several milestones on the howitzer front with billions of dollars worth of orders placed and Germany committing to more 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles. Taiwan was also approved for equipment orders worth $11 billion even as the year came to an end with China encircling the country as part of an exercise.
-
![US Army seeks industry support to prepare acquisitions of Group 4+ UAVs]()
US Army seeks industry support to prepare acquisitions of Group 4+ UAVs
The US Army is keen to hear about vendor designs, strategies and potential hardware and software solutions to inform requirements for procurement efforts.
-
![Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential]()
Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
-
![Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator]()
Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.
