FMU-139D/B Brings Advanced Capabilities to Front Line
Northrop Grumman received an $85 million (€77.6 million) production order from the US Navy last year for FMU-139D/B general purpose bomb fuzes to support US Air Force inventory objectives, the company announced on 5 February.
“The FMU 139D/B is highly survivable and suitable for penetrator weapons, offering flexibility and advanced capabilities,” observed Pat Nolan, Vice President, Missile Products at Northrop Grumman. “We will continue to make investments in sophisticated fuzes to help ensure US [and allied forces] are equipped with the best tools to complete their missions.”
The FMU-139D/B is an all-electronic bomb fuze offering increased performance at a reduced cost compared with competing devices. It joins three legacy bomb fuzes – the FMU-139C/B, FMU-152 and most FMU-143s – which are used in many general purpose bombs. The FMU-139D/B relies on electronics to safe and arm the device and can be fully tested before the fuze is delivered to the customer.
The fuzes covered by this order will be produced at Northrop Grumman’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) facility in Rocket Center, WV.
