WASHINGTON DC - On November 30, 2023, the U.S. Army Contracting Command (Newark, NJ) announced General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc. (Scranton, PA) (under contract W15QKN-23-D-0025, P00001); and IMT Defense Corp. (Westerville, OH) (under contract W15QKN-23-D-0026, P00001) will compete for each order of the $654,497,038 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for M1128 metal parts programs. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 12, 2028.

The 155mm M1128 High Explosive Base Bleed projectile -- along with the M1113 HE Rocket Assist projectile and the M1122E1 HE projectile -- represent the Next Generation 155mm Artillery Ammunition Family. These rounds are compatible with both the M777A2 Joint Lightweight Howitzer and the M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer. They will also be compatible with the U.S. Army's future Extended Range Cannon Artillery System. The rounds feature insensitive high explosive filler; and provide enhanced effects on target.

Overall, while the production surge to meet U.S. Department of Defense operational requirements has effectively ended, the requirement to replenish war reserves and training stocks of all artillery round types will maintain a base sustainment level of production averaging about 277,000 rounds per year.

Source: FI Report, Artillery Ammunition
Associated URL: https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3602901/
Author: D. Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst 

WASHINGTON DC - On November 30, 2023, the U.S. Army Contracting Command (Detroit Arsenal, MI) awarded Oshkosh Defense (Oshkosh, WI) a $28,983,754 modification (P01127) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, parts, and services.

Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of September 25, 2025. Fiscal 2023 Foreign Military Sales (Israel) and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $28,983,754 were obligated at the time of the award.

In August 2015, the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command awarded Oshkosh Defense a $6.7 billion firm-fixed-price contract to manufacture the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

In June 2019, the U.S. Army approved full-rate production of the JLTV. In August 2019, the JLTV achieved Initial Operational Capability with the U.S. Marine Corps.

On February 9, 2023, the U.S. Army Contracting Command awarded AM General LLC a $230,874,512 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for the JLTV family of vehicles. With this contract award, AM General scored a major upset over Oshkosh Defense in the U.S. Army's new competition to continue production of the JLTV. The overall contract is worth an estimated $8.66 billion.

AM General will produce the JLTV at its 96-acre Mishawaka Manufacturing Campus in Indiana. Deliveries are to begin 17 months after contract award. In the meantime, Oshkosh Defense remains under contract to continue serial production of the JLTV through at least November 2023.

According to U.S. Department of Defense budget request documentation, the current revised procurement objective stands at 53,582 vehicles - 49,099 vehicles for the U.S. Army and 4,483 vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Source: FI Report, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
Associated URL: https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3602901/
Author: D. Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst 

WASHINGTON DC - On November 30, 2023, the U.S. Army Contracting Command (Newark, NJ) awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. (Plymouth, MN) a $24,011,613 modification (P00088) to contract W15QKN-13-C-0074 for reliability improvements of the precision guidance kit.

Work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2025. Fiscal 2023 procurement of ammunition, Army funds in the amount of $24,011,613 were obligated at the time of the award.

The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit features a Global Positioning System guidance kit with fuze functions and an integrated GPS receiver to correct the inherent errors associated with ballistic firing solutions, reducing the number of artillery projectiles required to attack targets. The increase in efficiency that PGK’s capability provides allows operational commanders to engage assigned targets and rapidly achieve desired effects while minimizing collateral damage. PGK currently has two Department of Defense Identification Codes (DODIC), NA28 and NA29. The 2,399 kits that were procured for early fielding under an Urgent Materiel Release to Operation Enduring Freedom have the NA28 DODIC. The PGK currently being procured has the NA29 DODIC. PGK is also developing an increased capability in a GPS-degraded environment and will be compatible with the future M-Code GPS architecture.

The next generation PGK-AJ (anti-jam) will contain new technology that modernizes PGK. Additionally, PGK-AJ will provide compatibility with developmental artillery projectiles and platforms to achieve the Long Range Precision Fires Cross Function Team goals of lethality at extended ranges.

The M982 Excalibur was fielded as a guided 155mm round with an accuracy of 10 meters (10.94 yds) from a range of 40 kilometers (24.85 stat mi). The U.S. Army began fielding the M982 Excalibur in Iraq during 2007; the munition made its debut in Afghanistan in 2008.

The M1156 represents a cheaper alternative to the M982 Excalibur, with an accuracy of 50 meters (54 yds). The PGK fuse can be screwed onto existing M549A1 and M795 projectiles. Like the M982 Excalibur, the M1156 PGK is compatible with the M109A7 Paladin and M777A2 Joint Lightweight Howitzer artillery systems.

Source: FI Report, Artillery Ammunition
Associated URL: https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3602901/
Author: D. Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst