Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force and Orbital ATK has signed a full-rate production contract for the FMU-167/B Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze, the company announced on Wednesday.
The $23 million award is a follow-on contract from an initial production deal in 2016.
The Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze, or HTVSF, is a cockpit program that gives the pilot an advantage to defeat hard target weapons that are buried in underground bunkers or in caves like those found in Afghanistan.
The program provides for multiple delay arming and detonation times to include void-sensing function that allows for precision activation of the fuze, Orbital said.
"As threats continue to develop stronger and deeper buried facilities, they are developing greater challenges for conventional munitions," Pat Nolan, Vice President and General Manager of the Missile Products division, part of Orbital ATK's Defense Systems Group, said in a press release.
Orbital ATK developed the all-electronic FMU-167/B to fill a specialized and growing need in penetrating weapons, the company said.
"With the completion of this award we can begin building what we believe is a key capability for our armed forces and allies," said Nolan.
