A projectile fuze (12) having fuze electronics in which the time of flight (T) can be programmed, having a timer/counter which counts up to the programmed time of flight (T)--minus a defined time value (.DELTA.t)--and then charges an electrical firing circuit, and having a mechanical safety and arming unit (16) which switches a firing chain to the armed position after a specific time interval. The firing chain has an electrical detonator (24), a fuze needle (20), a piercing detonator (22) and a booster charge (26). The projectile fuze (12) has a pyrotechnic force element (14), which is interconnected with the fuze electronics and mechanically blocks the safety and arming unit (16) until the time of flight (T) minus the predetermined time value (.DELTA.t) is reached, after which the electrical firing circuit is charged and the safety and arming unit (16) is unlocked to the armed position by initiation of the force element (14).