Orbital ATK to Manufacture Projectile Fuze for Navy Ship Gun Ammunition

Orbital ATK has secured a $20.8 million contract to produce and support the first article test of a multifunction projectile fuze designed to increase the overall mission capacity of five-inch gun ammunition for U.S. Navy ships.

The MK419 Mod 1 Multi-Function Fuze combines five modes of operation into a single fuze intended to be used on MK187 projectiles that support Navy 54 and 62 caliber Mk45 naval gun systems, Orbital ATK said Tuesday.

Modes of operation combined for the MK419 MFF include air proximity, autonomous, electronic time, point detonation and surface proximity fuze configurations.

Pat Nolan, vice president and general manager of the missile products division at Orbital ATK’s defense systems group, said the MFF will utilize the company’s previous design, development and production experience to deliver the fuze system for the Navy’s 54 caliber ammunition.

Nolan added the fuze will work to extend the service branch’s defensive and offensive capacities.