ATK to produce FMU-143 bomb fuses

First article testing and production of FMU-143 bomb fuses will be conducted in West Virginia by ATK under a U.S. Army contract worth as much as $84 million.

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity vehicle was issued by the Army's Contracting Center at Rock Island, Ill., but the fuses are for use by the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

"ATK is proud to add this product to our portfolio of fusing for defeat of hard and deeply buried targets," said Dave Fine, vice president of ATK's Fusing and Warheads Market Segment. "The FMU-143 is the only qualified production fuse for use in today's hard target defeat weapon systems.

"This (contract) complements our lead role in the development of next-generation hard- target defeat fusing systems, established through our earlier win of the FMU-167 Hard Target Void Sensing Fuse program."

The FMU-143 fuse is used on bombs such as the BLU-109 and BLU-113, which are designed for destroying highly hardened or deeply buried targets. The bombs stay intact upon impact, penetrate deep into the interior of the target and are delayed detonated by the fuses.

"ATK has a tremendous program and manufacturing team dedicated to producing FMU-143 for the U.S. Air Force and Navy," said Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager of ATK Missile Products Division. "We look forward to partnering with our teammate and customers to deliver the highest quality product and to provide this critical capability to the U.S. armed forces."

ATK is the prime contractor under the contract and will team with L-3 Fusing and Ordnance Systems for the work.

The initial order for fuses under the contract is worth $52 million.