ATK, General Dynamics Begin Developing Precision Extended Range Mortar For U.S Marine Corps

ATK announced today that it will begin execution of a $14.3 million contract awarded to develop a solution to meet the U.S. Marine Corps' requirement for a rifled, 120mm, Precision Extended Range Mortar (PERM). ATK has teamed with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) to bring the most mature capabilities to the program. The ATK / GD-OTS PERM technical solution combines ATK's patented and operationally-proven precision guidance fuze technology with the GD-OTS extended-range rifled mortar energetic subsystems developed during the PERM Technical Demonstration program. "This best-in-class combination provides the most reliable and affordable path to achieve the Marine Corps' objective of fielding a precision mortar," said Bruce DeWitt , Vice President and General Manager for ATK Armament Systems Division. "Using mature, proven technologies also significantly reduces development time, which we've proven by using our Precision Guidance Kit technology to deliver - in one year's time - a fully-qualified, precision mortar to meet the U.S. Army's aggressive Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative". ATK guidance fuze technology is currently being used by the U.S. Army to meet precision guidance requirements for 155mm artillery projectiles (XM1156) and 120mm mortar cartridges (XM395). The ATK / GD-OTS PERM projectile will capitalize on these ongoing U.S. Army development and production programs to incorporate design commonality, lessons learned, and future product improvements. The PERM initiative is integral to the Marine Corps Ship-to-Objective-Maneuver (STOM) contingency operations that call for precision, long-range (16 - 20km) mortars fired from the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) towed-mortar platform in support of Marine infantry units. The EFSS is a light, mobile and vertically transportable indirect fire support system designed for missions requiring tactical versatility, speed and close-in fire support. The EFSS is designed to be internally transportable in the MV-22B Osprey and the CH-53 helicopter and has been in fielded with the Marine Corps since 2009.