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...this technology improve the accuracy of 155-mm and, eventually, 105-mm conventional cannon rounds. PGK uses a fuze-like global positioning system (GPS) capability to improve the rounds' accuracy down to 50 meters or less circular error probable (CEP) at all ranges. Increment 1 155-mm PGK is projected for fielding in FY09.
This article explains the PGK requirement, benefits and employment; discusses its complementary role to other munitions; and provides a summary of on-going activities.
Why make dumb rounds smarter? Some may question why we need to make dumb rounds more accurate. The answer: Making some of our conventional cannon projectiles more accurate with PGK gives the ground force commander an additional fire support option that, for many targets, is the most efficient and effective option.
Conventional cannon artillery is an area-fire weapon system with a specified role of providing accurate, responsive fires in support of maneuver. It also may be used to create psychological effects on enemy combatants through volume and concussion. In that case, the more rounds the better. The goal for all artillery missions is to achieve the commander's desired effects.
Although FA cannon units are experts at providing indirect fires, errors exist inherently in the delivery processes that affect the rounds' accuracy. As a result of these errors, units can experience a large dispersion of rounds around a target. To compensate for this dispersion, FA units must fire many rounds or volleys to increase the probability of attaining the desired lethal effects on the target.
In most cases, the increased volume required to attack a target is an effort to compensate for the inherent inaccuracies of any given indirect fire weapon system. (1) This is a function of accuracy, lethality and sheafing rules in the advanced FA tactical data system (AFATDS). The logic built into AFATDS determines the number of rounds for each mission and is based on attack guidance for each target type as established by the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual (JMEM). The harder the target, the more rounds required.
Conventional cannon fires can create the desired effects, but the downside is the large expenditure of munitions required...
NOTE: All illustrations and photos
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