BAE Systems to supply additional APKWS kits to US Navy

BAE Systems has secured a contract worth $225m from the US Navy to supply additional advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) precision guidance kits.

The order comes after the company received a contract last month from the US Department of Defence for the supply of 9,999 additional production units of APKWS II weapons.

APKWS kits have the ability to upgrade standard unguided 2.75-inch Hydra rockets into guided munitions.

The rocket is designed to hit the target with precision and limited collateral damage.

BAE Systems Precision Guidance and Sensing Solutions director Marc Casseres said: “We continue to deliver APKWS guidance kits ahead of schedule and ramp production rates to meet growing demand.

“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.”

BAE Systems’ APKWS guidance kits are the US government’s sole programme of record for the 2.75-inch laser-guided rockets.

The company offers the kits to the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Army, and US Air Force, as well as to allied nations through foreign military sales.

The rockets are ideal for use in dense urban combat as the warhead of the Hydra rocket combined with precision guidance enables warfighters to hit light targets while ensuring minimal risk to allies or civilian buildings in the combat area.

BAE Systems is targeting an annual production level of more than 20,000 units.

To achieve this, the firm is ramping up the production of APKWS guidance kits at its manufacturing facilities in Hudson, New Hampshire and Austin, Texas.

A $175m contract was awarded to the company in May last year to deliver more than 7,000 APKWS laser-guided rockets to the US Navy under a $600m indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract awarded in 2016.