Finland Secures $70M Deal for M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits.

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to Finland, involving Northrop Grumman's M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits (PGK) and associated equipment, valued at approximately $70 million.
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M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits exposed (Picture source: Northrop Grumman's)

Finland has requested the purchase of 5,500 M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuses, which will be added to an existing defense agreement. The initial agreement, valued at $97 million, included technical assistance, spare parts, equipment training, and other forms of logistical support. This new notification expands the scope of the agreement, significantly enhancing the precision capabilities of Finland's artillery. The PGK kits are designed to improve the accuracy of artillery fire, thereby strengthening Finland's medium-range firepower and overall military capabilities. The proposed sale also includes various non-major defense items such as integration kits, antennas, and precision-guided munition simulators, as well as ongoing technical support.

The Precision Guidance Kit (M1156) is a "smart" fuse that screws into a conventional 155mm munition instead of a conventional fuse and transforms it into a high-precision munition. The PGK design includes a GPS receiver for targeting, as well as aerodynamic fins that adjust the flight path. The GPS receiver allows the onboard computer to compare the projectile's trajectory with the coordinates of the intended impact location.

If the shell misses its target by more than 150 meters, the fuse will not activate, and the shell will not explode. This solution is designed to ensure that modernized munitions can be used against targets located near friendly units. The modernized M1156A1 fuses began entering service with the U.S. Army in 2021. Their special feature is their compatibility with long-range, active-reactive artillery shells. The new modules are expected to improve accuracy. When used with the long-range M1128 and M1113 shells, the module is expected to achieve a probable circular error of 10 meters at distances of 30 and 40 kilometers. This accuracy is based on a shot fired with a 155mm caliber cannon.

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

The U.S. recently agreed to sell thousands of conventional M1156 kits to Denmark for $85 million. The U.S. government emphasized that this sale aligns with its foreign policy objectives and strengthens the security of NATO allies, particularly in Europe. The increased accuracy of artillery will enhance Finland's ability to address current and future threats while improving interoperability with U.S. and allied forces.

155mm artillery projectile with the M1156 PGK. (Picture source : US DoD )