The US Navy has signed a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with BAE Systems for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guidance kits, valued at up to $1.7bn.
The agreement includes an initial order of $322m and aims to deliver tens of thousands of precision munitions to the US armed forces.
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Under the contract, the US Navy can procure APKWS guidance kits throughout the contract period, meeting increased demand both within the US and from international partners.
The kits will be available to all branches of the US military, as well as allied nations through foreign defence sales channels.
The APKWS guidance kit converts standard 2.75-inch unguided rockets into laser-guided munitions capable of targeting both stationary and moving assets on land and in the air.
BAE Systems stated that APKWS kits are proven in combat for air-to-surface, surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, and air-to-air missions.
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By GlobalDataBAE Systems precision guidance and sensing solutions director Neeta Jayaraman said: “This award reinforces the value of proven and cost-efficient precision munitions, which have consistently demonstrated their effectiveness and versatility across multiple platforms and missions.
“The APKWS guidance kit provides advanced capabilities to our armed forces and foreign allies, and high-volume production ensures rapid and efficient delivery to the warfighter.”
BAE Systems has maintained full-rate production of APKWS laser-guidance kits for more than 12 years. The kits are produced at its advanced manufacturing facilities in Hudson in New Hampshire and Austin, Texas.
The company said that its kits are compatible with existing inventories of rocket motors, warheads, and fuzes, requiring minimal user training and maintenance in operational environments.
They can be deployed from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground platforms both mounted and static, and maritime vessels.
Recently, BAE Systems secured a $36m contract from Lockheed Martin to supply Multifunction Modular Mast (MMM) systems for US Navy’s new Virginia-class submarines.
