Air Force selects Orbital ATK intelligent, cockpit-programmable fuze merging sensors, algorithms, and hardened electronics

DULLES, Va. Orbital ATK (NYSE:OA), a global provider of aerospace and defense technologies, won its first full-rate production (FRP) contract for its all-electronic, air-delivered FMU-167/B Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze (HTVSF), an intelligent, cockpit programmable fuze that provides the capability to destroy hard and deeply buried targets.

The $23 million, U.S. Air Force contract award is a follow-on order to a 2016 low-rate initial production contract for the HTVSF, which provides multiple delay arming and detonation times, as well as a void-sensing function, which allows precision activation of the fuze. Since entering limited production last year, the FMU-167/B has been rigorously tested and evaluated and has demonstrated exceptional survivability, reliability, and accuracy of detonation in penetrating weapons, officials say.

A maker of advanced, intelligent, and hard-target impact survivable fuzing technology, Orbital ATK developed the all-electronic FMU-167/B to fill a specialized and growing need in penetrating weapons. The FMU-167/B incorporates advanced sensors, robust algorithms and hardened electronics technology to offer the warfighter improved performance against tactical targets. The HTVSF is intended to be used with the current inventory of U.S. Department of Defense air-delivered penetrating weapons.

“As threats continue to develop stronger and deeper buried facilities, they are developing greater challenges for conventional munitions,” says Pat Nolan, vice president and general manager of the missile products division, part of Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group. "With the completion of this award we can begin building what we believe is a key capability for our armed forces and allies."

Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group provides precision and strike weapons, advanced propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across air-, sea- and land-based systems, ammunition, and related energetic products.

Orbital ATK designs, builds, and delivers space, defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several international locations.

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