US Navy ordered thousands of APKWS kits from BAE Systems.

The combat-proven Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS®) kits transform standard 2.75” (70mm) Hydra rockets into guided munitions that provide warfighters with a precision strike capability with limited collateral damage. In May 2018, the US Navy already awarded BAE Systems a $US 175 million contract for more than 7.000 APKWS laser-guided rockets. Now, the US Navy has decided to order thousands more.

An APKWS Laser-Guided Rocket rushes towards a laser-designated target (Picture source : BAE Systems)

“We continue to deliver APKWS guidance kits ahead of schedule and ramp production rates to meet growing demand,” said Marc Casseres, director of Precision Guidance and Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “We’re committed to providing warfighters with highly reliable, low-cost laser-guided rockets that allow them to engage targets with precision and improve their overall mission efficiency.”

The APKWS guidance kits are the U.S. government’s only program of record for 2.75-inch laser-guided rockets, and are available to all four military branches and to allied nations via Foreign Military Sales. The warhead of the Hydra rocket combined with precision guidance lets warfighters strike light targets while minimizing the risk of harm to friendly forces or civilian buildings nearby – making them ideal for dense urban combat.

Innovative by design, the APKWS rocket includes advanced DASALS seeker optics located on all four guidance wings. Once fired, the wings deploy, and the optics lock in, guiding the rocket to the target – delivering accuracy when it matters most. In addition to that, APKWS rockets are the only guided 2.75-inch rockets qualified both by the U.S. Department of Defense, and for use on multiple military rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

BAE Systems continues to accelerate production of APKWS guidance kits at its state-of-the-art production facilities in Hudson, New Hampshire and Austin, Texas as it builds toward an annual production level of more than 20,000 units.

The company’s robust supply chain, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and infrastructure investments exceeding $100 million have enabled it to meet increasing production rates for its top precision munition and electronic warfare programs. APKWS rockets are part of BAE Systems precision munitions portfolio, which includes guidance systems for missiles and artillery shells, as well as advanced seeker research.