Army awards precision guidance contract

BAE Systems' U.S. subsidiary has received an $8 million contract to develop guidance kits that help munitions change course in-flight without the use of GPS navigation.

The goal is to further ensure the accuracy of 155-millimeter artillery munitions, BAE Systems Inc. said Tuesday. BAE builds its precision guidance kits to be compatible with existing and experimental artillery munitions and propellants.

These kits can also work with firing platforms such as the M777 lightweight towed howitzer and M10 self-propelled howitzer family of vehicles. The Army wants to help warfighters engage targets for longer periods of time with less ammunition and fewer logistical sustainment requirements.

The Army's Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium awarded the contract.