Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman Forge Dynamic Alliance for Next-Gen Precision Artillery Munitions
Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman have established a formal alliance to collaborate in the sector of precision-guided extended range artillery munitions. Rheinmetall’s subsidiary in South Africa, Rheinmetall Denel Munition, and Northrop Grumman formalized a 10-year strategic collaboration agreement in February 2021. Throughout this duration, both firms aim to work together to deliver innovative ammunition technologies to the global market, including the United States, to bolster future artillery operations.
This alliance will particularly emphasize the development of an advanced range 155mm artillery shell equipped with an integrated M1156 precision guidance kit (PGK), alongside the creation of a new 155mm projectile featuring a refined integrated propulsion system.
Utilized by various armed forces, the M1156 PGK offers an affordable and readily accessible solution for enhancing the accuracy of existing artillery munitions. When paired with Rheinmetall’s V-LAP projectile, known for achieving the longest maximum range of any conventional artillery shell, the M1156 PGK provides an immediate resolution, validated in numerous combat situations, for long-range precision-guided munitions. The record for the farthest distance reached by a standard artillery projectile currently lies at 76 kilometers, achieved in 2019 at the Alkantpan testing facility with a non-NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU)-compliant 52-calibre cannon and RDM 155mm projectile.
More than twelve nations’ armed forces currently utilize enhanced range Rheinmetall artillery munitions from South Africa. The amalgamation of established technologies enables a swift enhancement in capabilities and combat effectiveness. Additionally, other NATO members and non-JBMOU users can implement this solution derived from Rheinmetall’s extensive artillery offerings.
In early 2021, Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman conducted evaluations of the V-LAP projectile variants and PGK in South Africa and are planning to showcase it soon at the US Army testing ground in Yuma, Arizona.
