The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman an additional contract modification worth nearly $97 million to sustain production of the FMU-139D/B electronic bomb fuze and maintain supply availability for US military services and allied defence forces.
The latest modification increases the maximum value of the existing contract to approximately $462.4 million. The agreement covers the production and supply of FMU-139D/B fuze systems, accessory kits, training fuzes, power cables, and associated equipment for the US Navy, US Air Force, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.
Northrop Grumman manufactures the FMU-139D/B at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL), a government-owned manufacturing facility located in Rocket Center, West Virginia. The company reported delivering its 200,000th unit earlier in 2026, highlighting the programme’s established production capacity.
Following investments in automation technologies and advanced manufacturing processes, ABL has expanded its annual production capacity to as many as 85,000 fuzes. These improvements are intended to enhance manufacturing efficiency, strengthen production output, and support growing procurement requirements from US military services and international partners.
Electronic Fuzes Strengthen Air-Delivered Weapons Capabilities
The FMU-139D/B is an electronic fuze designed to control the functioning and timing of air-delivered munitions. Its compatibility with multiple aircraft and weapon platforms makes it an important component of the US military’s conventional bomb inventory.
Fuzes play a critical role in determining when an air-delivered munition performs its intended function according to its design and operational requirements. Their reliability is essential to maintaining weapon-system performance and ensuring consistent operational availability.
The continued procurement of FMU-139D/B systems reflects the US military’s emphasis on sustaining essential munitions components, expanding domestic manufacturing capacity, and maintaining reliable supply chains for both domestic forces and allied customers.
