The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Finland of M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits (PGKs) and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 19 August 2024.
The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated USD 70 million (EUR 63 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Finland has requested to buy 5,500 M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes that will be added to a previously implemented FMS case, the value of which was under the congressional notification threshold. The original FMS case, valued at US 0.97 million, included items such as technical data/reports, US government technical assistance, training and related elements of logistics and programme support, while the latest notification adds the 5,500 M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes.
The estimated total programme cost is thus USD 70 million.
The M1156 PGK is a precision guidance system that replaces the conventional fuzes of unguided 155 mm artillery rounds to turn them into near-precision-guided munitions by using GPS and aerodynamic fins that adjust a round’s flight path. The M1156 PGK offers a circular error probable of 30-50 m, while the M1156A1 variant introduces compatibility with XM1113 and XM1128 39 calibre 155 mm projectiles and M-Code jamming resistance.
Although the Finish Defence Forces still use Soviet-designed 130 mm and 152 mm artillery, they have two types of 155 mm calibre system: the Finnish-made Patria 155 GH 52 APU and Tampella 155 K 83/83-97 towed howitzers and the more recently acquired Hanwha K9 Thunder self-propelled gun.
“The proposed sale will improve Finland’s capability to meet current and future threats and enhance its interoperability with US and other allied forces. This proposed sale will enhance Finland’s artillery and mid-range fire capability,” the DSCA stated.
The principal contractor for the sale will be Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems out of its facilities in Dulles, Virginia.
