PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Northrop Grumman has begun production of its PGK E5 precision guidance kit for the U.S. Army. The upgraded system is designed to maintain the accuracy of 155 mm artillery rounds when GPS signals are jammed or degraded.
Production is underway at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Plymouth, Minnesota, with the first deliveries expected in early 2028. The company has not disclosed the specific number or value of PGK E5 kits ordered.
The PGK E5 is the latest version of the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit, which has been in production since 2013 and in service since 2015. The kit screws into the fuze well of compatible conventional 155 mm projectiles, allowing existing ammunition to receive GPS-guided course-correction capability without requiring new guided shells or changes to the artillery platform.
Anti-Jamming Upgrade
The main improvement in the E5 is its enhanced anti-jamming technology, developed to maintain precision when GPS signals are disrupted by electronic warfare. Northrop Grumman said the system recently exceeded the Army’s threshold and objective accuracy requirements during testing in GPS-degraded conditions.
The Army lists a threshold accuracy of less than 50 meters circular error probable (CEP) and an objective of less than 30 meters CEP.
The E5 maintains the same fit, form and user experience as previous PGK versions. It is compatible with projectiles including the M795 and M549A1 high-explosive rounds and fielded artillery systems such as the M109A6/A7 Paladin and M777A2. The system also retains standard fuze functions, including point detonation and proximity, or height-of-burst, operation.
“Today’s threat environment demands speed and innovation and we’re working closely with the U.S. Army to ensure the PGK E5 keeps maneuver forces ready to win in GPS degraded environments,” said Dave Fine, vice president of armament systems at Northrop Grumman.
$862.8 Million Production Contract
The E5 production follows a $862.8 million firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract awarded to Northrop Grumman by the U.S. Army in September 2026. The five-year agreement covers the manufacture, inspection, testing, packaging and delivery of M1156 precision guidance kits and variants through September 2031. Individual orders will determine work locations and funding.
The Army Contracting Command in Newark, New Jersey, manages the agreement.
Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 145,000 PGK kits to date, with the system reporting a 98 percent point reliability rate since 2013. PGKs are used by U.S. forces and allied countries, including Australia, Canada and Finland. Finland purchased 5,500 kits in August 2024.
The PGK approach allows existing stocks of conventional 155 mm ammunition to receive precision-guidance capability, providing the Army with an anti-jam upgrade without requiring replacement of its existing artillery platforms.
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