New Precision Artillery Rounds Capable of Firing Without GPS

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The United States Army is working on developing a precision guided 155 mm artillery round capable of firing and destroying targets in GPS denied environments. The shells are longer range than the currently used artillery shells.

The Precision Guidance Kit Modernization (PGK-M) is intended to replace the standard PGK rounds. First emerging about 10 years ago, the PGK was developed to increase precision to the historically unguided artillery shell.

The Army is now interested to push the technology to a new level by increasing its accuracy, range, and functionality. Most importantly, the new PGK-M shell has been engineered so that it can still be fired accurately without GPS.

The PGK-M will be able to fire from standard 155 mm weapons such as the M109 howitzer.

One of the developers working on the guided round, BAE Systems, mention that the shell will be capable of making in-flight course adjustments, regardless of GPS status.

As the methods of warfare have evolved so have the weapons and technology used to fight such wars. Since the escalation of terrorists and hostiles who purposely blend among citizens, the need for area clearing artillery has gone down. Instead, it has become more necessary to operate precise strikes, so as to not harm any innocent civilians by means of collateral damage.

The original PGK was developed for this reason, during conflicts with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the United States military has noticed that there has been an increase in counter GPS technologies and thus the military must adapt to rely less on GPS. This has led the military to further develop technologies that rely less and less on GPS.