Northrop Grumman Corporation

10/31/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/31/2024 14:01

Northrop Grumman Awarded Nearly $200M Contract for FMU-139D/B Fuze

ROCKET CENTER, W.Va. - Oct. 31, 2024 - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) was recently awarded a 3-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at $197.5 million from the United States Navy for continued manufacturing of the FMU-139D/B fuze for the United States Navy, Air Force and multiple allied nations.

  • The FMU-139D/B is an electronic fuze system that was designed and developed to eliminate nearly all mechanical components and is the follow-on fuze to the three legacy bomb fuzes - FMU-139 C/B, FMU-152 and FMU-143.
  • The contract also included options for D-1, D-2 and D-5 trainer fuzes as well as accessories for the FMU-139D/B.
  • Northrop Grumman will continue manufacturing the FMU-139D/B Fuze at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia, utilizing a unique process that is over 70% automated.

This first-to-market electronic "smart" general purpose bomb fuze is extremely effective in defeating enemy structures that require high-velocity impact performance. Electronic fuzes are designed with a minimum of moving mechanical components, which significantly improves functional reliability in the most demanding target impact conditions. Over the past several years the Department of Defense has invested significant resources to perform over 50 sled tests to ensure the FMU-139D/B meets and exceeds the required functionality to support the needs of the warfighter.

An FMU-139D/B fuze. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Expert:

Frank DeMauro, vice president, weapon systems, Northrop Grumman: "These electronic fuzes, produced with automated technologies, ensure that safety is the underlying foundation - safety built into the design, safety in manufacturing, and safety for the warfighter. With over 100,000 of these fuzes delivered, we continue to make investments in sophisticated fuzes to help ensure U.S. warfighters and their allies are equipped with the best tools to complete their missions."

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.