FA Units in Afghanistan Field Precision Guidance Kit

The A and B Batteries of 2^nd Battalion, 15^th Field Artillery Regiment have recently received and employed precision guided munitions as part of the fielding phase in the XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit project.  Initial field testing on the low-fi alternative to Raytheon’s Excalibur munitions began in March, and is expected to be completed by the end of June. 

The XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit, or PGK, is the latest in “smart” munitions that use Global Positioning and in-flight corrections to increase the accuracy of the round. According to the performance specifications listed by Peter Burke, the Deputy Project Manager, an 155mm PGK round fired from a M549A1 Paladin, will be accurate within 50 meters out to 30km, as opposed to 267 meters with a standard round.

This increased accuracy mitigates the risk for collateral damage and civilian casualties in and around Afghanistan’s urban centers, but also allows for increased support of the maneuver mission, improving lethal fires as well. Spc. Clayton of Battery B said that the increase in accuracy was “impressive… and immediately noticeable” in comparison to the standard round. 

Logistically speaking, the PGK is a relative no-brainer. It is currently compatible with two versions of the standard 155mm rounds, the M795 High Explosive and M549/A1 Rocket Assisted Projectile. Integration into the A and B batteries has been as simple as screwing on the PGK like any other fuse. Plans for the development of a 105mm compatible model are also in the works, as well as expanding the fusing options for the 155mm. 

On the dollar, the PGK is a significant development in the field of precision guided artillery. The current standard, the XM982  Excalibur costs $89,000 per round, in comparison to $300 dollars for a standard shell. Currently the reported unit cost of the PGK is less than $3,000 with virtually the same capabilities as the Excalibur. Perhaps the future of Precision Guided Munitions has a new face.