XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition
The XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM) is a 120 mm guided mortar round under development by Alliant Techsystems.[2]
Design
Based on Orbital ATK’s Precision Guidance Kit for 155 mm artillery projectiles, XM395 combines GPS guidance and directional control surfaces into a package that replaces standard fuzes, transforming existing 120 mm mortar bodies into precision-guided munitions. [3]
The most recent XM395 munition consist of a GPS-guided kit fitted to standard 120 mm smoothbore mortar rounds, that includes the fitting of a nose and tail subsystem containing the maneuvering parts.[4][5]
The Army bought 5,480 mortar guidance kits in response to an operational needs statement in Afghanistan. With the success of the XM395, the Army is seeking a guided 120 mm mortar program of record through the High Explosive Guided Mortar (HEGM) proposal. The HEGM would have the same range and accuracy with increased reliability and lethality. Deliveries would not take place until around 2020, so ATK is pushing to continue orders of the XM395 to avoid an inventory gap if a contingency arises.[6]
Specification
Program status
- December 2004: Alliant Techsystems regains an $80 million contract from the U.S. Army to begin production on the XM395 precision-guided mortar munition after a protest by Lockheed Martin a year previously.[2]
- January 2006: Successfully completed the preliminary design review (PDR) stage.[8]
- February 2006: Successful ballistic flight test at Yuma Proving Grounds.[9]
- February 2007: Funding for program withdrawn in proposed FY2008 budget.[10]
- March 2007: Successful guided flight test.[11]
- April 2010: ATK's XM395 wins the U.S. Army's competition for the preferred mortar guidance kit.[12]
- March 2011: XM395 munition kit makes its combat debut in Afghanistan.[13]
See also
References
- ↑ PM Mortar Systems demonstrates XM395 during exercise
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alliant Techsystems Takes Army Mortar Contract (Again)
- ↑ https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/armament-systems/xm395/
- ↑ Calloway, Audra (29 March 2011). "Picatinny fields first precision-guided mortars to troops in Afghanistan". Picatinny Public Affairs. US Army - Picatinny Arsenal. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ↑ "XM395: 120mm Precision Mortar". ATK Advanced Weapon. ATK. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ↑ "Army halts mortar buys, looks to trade up". Armytimes.com, 8 November 2013.
- ↑ Armed Forces International
- ↑ ATK Successfully Completes Preliminary Design Review of Precision Guided Mortar Munition
- ↑ ATK Conducts Successful Ballistic Flight Test of the Precision Guided Mortar Munition
- ↑ Army Proposes Major Weapons Cuts - military.com
- ↑ ATK Precision Guided Mortar Munition Scores Direct Hit In Guided Flight Test
- ↑ Brannen, Kate (21 April 2010). "ATK Wins U.S. Army Precision Mortar Contract". Defense News. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ↑ Calloway, Audra (29 March 2011). "Picatinny fields first precision-guided mortars to troops in Afghanistan". Picatinny Public Affairs. US Army - Picatinny Arsenal. Retrieved 21 February 2012.