ATK and GD team up to produce USMC mortar system

ATK has signed an agreement with General Dynamics (GD) Ordnance and Tactical Systems to provide US Marine Corps (USMC) with low-risk, capabilities-based solution requirements for the 120mm Precision Extended Range Mortar (PERM).

Under the terms of the agreement, the company will provide USMC with guidance fuze technology integrated with GD's propulsion and warhead subsystems.

PERM forms a crucial element of USMC's Ship-to-Objective-Manoeuvre (STOM) contingency operations and provides precision, long-range mortars fired from the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) towed-mortar platform.

The EFSS consists of prime mover vehicles, a 120mm M327 mortar weapon, the four-round family of munitions and an ammunition trailer and is transportable in the MV-22B Osprey and the CH-53 helicopter.

The indirect fire support system is designed for conducting tactical versatility, speed and close-in fire support missions.

ATK is the prime contractor to the USMC for the PERM Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) programme.