A kit that improves the accuracy of artillery has been approved for low-rate production following the passing of First Article Acceptance Tests.

The tests on ATK's precision guidance kit, which validated the product's performance and safety, were conducted recently at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.

"The precision guidance kit approach is a mature technology that, when applied to existing, indirect-fire munitions such as artillery and mortar projectiles, has the ability to greatly increase accuracy and effectiveness of the current U.S. stockpile for the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and international allies," said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager of ATK's Armament Systems division. "We have now proven this technology's performance and safety during rigorous acceptance testing and it is now ready for production and fielding to the warfighter."

PGK is a guidance fuze that fits within the fuze well of 155mm high-explosive artillery projectiles and performs in-flight course corrections for improved precision. ATK said its design features a fixed-canard guidance-and-control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply.

The kit includes a "fail safe" option -- a PGK-equipped artillery round will not detonate if it does not get close enough to its target.

During the testing, PGK-fuzed rounds were fired from both the M109A6 Paladin 155mm self-propelled Howitzer and the M777A2 155mm lightweight towed Howitzer and passed the accuracy objective requirement of 30 yards or less. ATK said a majority of rounds fired were placed within 10 yards of the target.

"Today's battlefield is ever-changing in terms of terrain and engagement criteria," ATK said. "Reducing the risk of friendly and civilian casualties and collateral damage to infrastructure is critical."