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ROCKET CENTER, W.Va. – Sept. 5, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has received its first production order from the U.S. Navy to manufacture the FMU-139D/B, a new all-electronic bomb fuze suitable for many general purpose bombs used by the U.S. Department of Defense and its allied nations. With the U.S. Navy's decision this January to authorize full rate production, the improved FMU-139D/B bomb fuze creates a uniform solution for general purpose bombs that increases performance and reliability, while decreasing cost.
The FMU-139D/B replaces three legacy bomb fuzes – FMU-139C/B, FMU-152 and most FMU-143s – which were manufactured with technology that relied on mechanical mechanisms to safe and arm each fuze. In contrast, the FMU-139D/B relies on electronics to safe and arm the device, greatly improving its reliability as 100 percent of the fuze's electronic functionality can be tested before the fuze is delivered to the customer.
“Increased flexibility and agility will enable the warfighter to cover a broader set of missions,” said Pat Nolan, vice president, missile products, Northrop Grumman. “The FMU-139D/B's all-electronic nature improves affordability. It is easier to manufacture, assemble and test than other legacy fuzes.”
Under Northrop Grumman's contract with the U.S. Navy, the FMU-139D/B production orders have the potential to exceed $400 million over the next four years. FMU-139D/B will be used by both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force, and the Navy Program Office will manage the requirements.
The FMU-139D/B will be produced at Northrop Grumman's Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) facility in Rocket Center, West Virginia. The FMU-139D/B is designed to be a multi-purpose fuze equipped with general purpose characteristics and also serves as a highly survivable fuze for penetrator weapons. This flexibility offers the U.S. Department of Defense and its allied nations a multi-purpose fuze solution.
Learn more about the benefits of the FMU-139D/B, Northrop Grumman's new all-electronic fuze, in this video.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.
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By: Tom Kington ROME — Italy will cut €450 million (U.S. $512.3 million) from its planned defense spending in 2019 by suspending helicopter and missile purchases and canceling an office move by the defense ministry to help shore up social welfare and tax cuts, a defense source has told Defense News. Italy's total outlay on defense in 2019 will be announced in parliament in the next few days, as Rome's populist government seeks support by members of parliament for its state budget, which contains billions of euros for a new wage for the unemployed. To free up funds to cover spending, Rome has made its cut to the defense budget, just as most European states are increasing their military outlay. During 2019 all ongoing purchases of NH-90 helicopters for the Italian Army and Navy will be suspended, the source said. Italy is planning to buy 60 NH-90s for the Army and 56 for the Navy at a total cost of €4 billion, with the procurement due to wind up in 2024. Upgrades to Tornado aircraft will also be suspended, said the source, who added that the two measures would save €370 million. Italy's purchase of the MBDA Camm-Er missile defense system will also be put off for a year, saving €30 million in 2019, the source added. Another €50 million — to reach the total of €450 million — will come from the cancellation of plans to move the headquarters of Italy's armed forces out of their separate buildings in Rome's city center to a unified HQ in the suburbs. The plan, dubbed ‘Italy's Pentagon,' was due to cost a total of €1.1 billion, the source said. The source added that F-35 purchases would be “slowed” in order to spread out payments. Italy is currently planning to buy 90 aircraft. Italian defense minister Elisabetta Trenta will discuss the plan with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis when she visits the United States in November, the source said. The Italian coalition government which took office in June combines the anti-migrant League party with the anti-establishment Five Star party, which has long criticized spending on defense in Italy. A second defense source said that the defense ministry was about to publish its much delayed document breaking down the year's defense spending by program, which is normally released in the spring. The source said the document would this year indicate military procurement programs considered “ethical” by the new government. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/24/italy-plans-to-slash-half-a-billion-dollars-from-defense-in-2019