ENHANCED PORTABLE INDUCTIVE ARTILLERY FUZE SE

The Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter (EPIAFS) program is a key component of the Army's Cannon Transformation Strategy, as outlined in budget line item 0187AD3260. The primary objective of the EPIAFS program is to enable the setting of both current and future Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) and fuzes, particularly for 155mm weapon system platforms. This capability is essential for integrating modernized ammunition and supporting the Army's transition to advanced artillery systems that require rapid and reliable fuze setting for improved accuracy and operational effectiveness.

EPIAFS systems are designed to provide a direct set capability, integrating with new electronics and hardware to meet evolving data requirements. The program includes regular software updates to support new initialization data sets, ensuring compatibility with legacy platforms as well as future artillery systems. The overarching goal is to support higher rates of fire and provide overmatching capability, delivering superior performance compared to potential adversaries.

The program is managed by the Army and executed through contracts with industry partners, such as DRS in Melbourne, FL, with procurement oversight from Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. The procurement includes the improved Platform Integration Kit, which enhances the system's ability to complete the Direct Set Interface required for PGMs and fuzes. Funding also supports nonrecurring engineering efforts aimed at mitigating hardware obsolescence, upgrading software, and improving platform integration components. These efforts are critical for reducing system failures, increasing flexibility, and ensuring the long-term viability of the EPIAFS in support of the Army's modernization goals.

In addition to hardware procurement, the budget line item covers recurring software costs and support activities. Software updates are necessary to maintain compatibility with emerging munitions technologies and to provide new data sets for initialization. Support costs include value engineering and production engineering, which focus on optimizing manufacturing processes, reducing costs, and ensuring the reliability of delivered systems. Production engineering and value engineering are specifically funded to address the increased quantity of EPIAFS systems being procured and to support integration with advanced artillery platforms.

The production schedule for the EPIAFS program indicates a ramp-up in procurement quantities, with additional units planned for delivery in the upcoming fiscal year. This increase is driven by the need to equip Army units with the latest fuze setting technology to support both current operational requirements and anticipated future needs. The procurement strategy leverages economies of scale, resulting in lower unit costs as quantities increase. The program also includes planning for initial spares and support to ensure sustained operational readiness of fielded systems.

Contracting for the EPIAFS program is conducted through a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract with DRS, with production and delivery scheduled to begin in March 2026. The contract structure is designed to ensure timely delivery and adherence to Army specifications, with Picatinny Arsenal serving as the primary contracting office. The program's acquisition and delivery timelines are aligned with the Army's broader modernization efforts, ensuring that new artillery capabilities are fielded in a coordinated and efficient manner.