Norway has signed an agreement with the US to procure the Precision Guidance Kit M1156A1 for its 155 mm self-propelled artillery systems.
Further details were not disclosed. However, the US State Department earlier approved Oslo’s request to buy 8,001 M1156A1s in December for an estimated $130 million.
“Norway is investing heavily in artillery ammunition, and this is one of the acquisitions we are making to further increase the effectiveness of the Army’s artillery system,” Director of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) Gro Jære said.
“The acquisition will increase the Armed Forces’ combat power and strengthen our interoperability with the United States and other allies.”
Precision Guidance Kit
The Northrop Grumman kit turns a conventional artillery round into a GPS-guided smart projectile with greater accuracy and reliability.
It has also been equipped with M-Code antennas by CAES to counter GPS jamming.
The kits will be used with the Norwegian Armed Forces’ fleet of 28 K9 VIDAR (Versatile Indirect Artillery) systems, enhancing their effectiveness.
According to NDMA, the integration has already taken place in collaboration with US authorities, the Norwegian Armed Forces, the Norwegian Defence Research Institute, and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, supplier of the Norwegian Army’s fire control system.
