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2020-02-02

BAE Systems Wins US$2.68B for APKWS

Last December, BAE Systems announced that the U.S. Navy signed a US$2.68 billion indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the purchase of thousands of additional APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets, following a Department of Defense (DoD) announcement in September 2019. The contract demonstrates continuing demand for the company's combat-proven, low-cost precision munition and its precision strike capabilities that empower and protect warfighters while reducing collateral damage.

“Our armed forces customers are looking to apply just the right amount of force at the right location to execute their missions without unnecessary damage,” said Marc Casseres, director of Precision Guidance and Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “APKWS rockets provide warfighters with the unique ability to precisely engage targets without excessive force, reducing the risk to nearby forces, civilians, and assets. It’s the driving force behind growing global demand.”

The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract enables the Navy to purchase APKWS guidance kits over a five-year period, representing full-rate production lots 8-12. To meet growing demand, BAE Systems has ramped up production at its manufacturing facilities in Hudson, New Hampshire and Austin, Texas and established a robust supply chain.

Hitting the Mark

There are a number of precision-guided weapons on the market, but few consistently hit their intended target with pinpoint accuracy, while leaving minimal collateral damage. APKWS’ guidance section is designed to lock onto targets from over 3 kilometres away, keeping aircraft and laser designators at a safe distance from threats.

APKWS rockets fill the gap between unguided rockets and large precision munitions, and are the U.S. government’s only programme of record for 2.75” laser-guided rockets.

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. The innovative mid-body DASALS design protects the APKWS guidance section from adjacent rocket fire and delivers a high probability of target acquisition. Its wing slot seals protect optics from adjacent firings, sand, and moisture prior to launch to ensure no damage or debris inhibit the seeker from locking onto targets. Optics lock onto moving or stationary targets in open or confined areas, supporting a wide variety of missions, and eliminating the possibility of a lost or uncontrolled rocket after launch. 40-degree instantaneous field of regard enables a broad capture area for the rocket to adjust mid-flight and stay on track to its target.

Combat Proven

The APKWS rocket exceeds programme requirements as one of the most accurate precision guided weapon in its class. It is utilised by all four U.S. armed forces, with deliveries to numerous allied countries. It is used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army, and is available to allied nations via Foreign Military Sales.

The U.S. Marine Corps operators have flown with an APKWS laser-guided rocket as part of their everyday kit since 2012. More than 400 have been successfully fired in training, testing, and in combat.

In combat, the rocket has achieved over a 93 per cent hit rate when fired from rotary- and fixed-wing platforms. It is fired from more than 20 different fixed- and rotary-wing platforms and the U.S. Army has achieved numerous confirmed successful engagements in support of current combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force has fired hundreds of fixed-wing units in theater to date. U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy too have fired thousands of combined fixed- and rotary-wing shots in total, and hundreds in combat scenarios.

Modular Design

APKWS’ mid-body guidance and control section is compatible with existing and new inventories of 2.75-inch (70 millimetre) rocket motors, warheads, and launchers. It simply inserts between the rocket motor and warhead for easy installation on a variety of platforms. It has enabled integration on more than two-dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms, and is qualified on over a dozen. It was first integrated on the AH-1W Cobra, and requires no modifications to the standard rocket motor, firing platform or fire control system. The rocket successfully operates in combat on the AH-64D/E, MH-60R/S, UH-1Y, and AH-1W as well as other rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms.

Additionally, the APKWS guidance section has been successfully demonstrated on the 70mm Forges de Zeebruges (FZ) rocket, with the same proven effectiveness seen when integrated with the Hydra rocket.

The APKWS rocket can be purchased as a guidance section or as an all-up round. It requires no modifications to the standard rocket motor, firing platform or fire control system. The lightweight allows pilots to carry more stowed weapons, to engage more targets in combat. Fielding it requires minimal training, providing a seamless transition from firing Hydra rockets.

The APKWS rocket is also one of the most cost effective laser-guided munitions in its class. Instead of buying costly new weapon systems, users simply implement the upgrade into existing unguided rocket inventories for instant accuracy at the industry’s lowest total ownership cost. The cost savings are maximised by integrating APKWS on platforms used around the world such as the AH-64 Apache and F-16 Fighting Falcon to expand mission flexibility.

Reference Text and Photo:www.baesystems.com

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