Defence and aerospace company Northrop Grumman has received new orders to supply medium-calibre ammunition to the US Army.

The orders for 30mm x 173mm PGU 46/B high-explosive incendiary (HEI) rounds were placed under Northrop Grumman’s supply contract with the US government.

The company will manufacture the medium-calibre ammunition at its facilities in Virginia and West Virginia.

Ammunition will be processed at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri.

Northrop Grumman small calibre systems vice-president Rick Lavelock said: “We have a long, proven history of delivering the products our soldiers need to help defend our nation. This order, for expertly manufactured ammunition, is a testament to the continuous unwavering commitment we have for the US Army.”



The PGU-46 is a modification of the PGU-13 HEI round, featuring a non-self-destruct low drag fuse produced by Northrop Grumman.

The low drag fuses can deliver improved performance at extended ranges.

The PGU 46/B rounds have the ability to defeat light armour vehicles and ground targets used with the Mk44 and GAU-23 or any cannon firing 30mm x 173mm ammunition, according to Northrop Grumman.

In April this year, the company’s subsidiary Alliant Techsystems Operations received orders worth $194m from the US Army to deliver small-calibre ammunition.

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The orders were for 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and Cal 50 cartridges.

Since 2000, the company has manufactured more than 18 billion rounds of small-calibre ammunition at its Lake City facility.

The firm has invested in technology at the plant as part of modernisation plans to improve product quality and overall efficiency.

The Lake City manufacturing facility also caters to the ammunition needs of commercial customers.