More APKWS Rockets Headed to U.S. Marines in Theater

As a result of continued success in theater icts, the U.S. Navy is buying more BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS ®) rockets.

The company recently signed a $ 28 million full-rate Production Contract with Options to Produce more APKWS rockets for the Navy. The latest award Increases the total full-rate output contract value to $ 69 million and extends through 2014 generation.

"With this additional order Navy, Marines in combat will our Have a continuous supply of APKWS At Their disposal units, Enhancing Their Ability to Reliably and cost-Effectively undertakes variety of targets while Minimizing collateral damage," Said Joseph Tiano, APKWS program manager at BAE Systems. "The option was exercised Quickly, meaning more systems will go directly to the Marines, who are using the proven Already precision-strike capability in theater."

The recent order Navy caps off impressive year for the year APKWS rocket, completed 10 Which live-fire tests over water against stationary and moving targets floating off Point Mugu Naval Air Station in California Earlier this year. Also in 2012, the system was fired from a Beechcraft AT-6 light attack / trainer aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base year as share of industry-funded demonstration.

The APKWS rocket is one-third of the cost and one-third of the weight of the Existing inventory of laser-guided weapons, and is the only Department of Defense fully qualified guided 2.75-inch rocket That uses semi-active laser guidance technology to soft and lightly armored strike targets in built-up and confined areas. BAE Systems designed the APKWS technology to fill the gap Hellfire missile and entre le Unguided rockets. The company Produces the mid-body guidance kit, Which exchange standard has Unguided rocket into a precision laser-guided missile.

More than 100 of the rockets APKWS Have Been fired in action in Afghanistan since the Marines Deployed the first weapon in March 2012. None of the rockets fired APKWS HAS icts target missed due to failure Effective launch.

The APKWS rocket is qualified on the AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters, and is expected to be similarly qualified for use on several other rotary-and fixed-wing aircraft. The system is available to allied forces, through foreign military sales.