BAE Systems has secured a new $59.5m contract for the delivery of additional advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) guidance kits to the US Navy.

The APKWS laser-guidance kits help transform standard 2.75in rockets into highly accurate precision munitions.

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The current deal will also allow the company to continue meeting the rising demand for cost-effective guided weaponry from the US armed forces and allied international customers.

BAE Systems Precision Guidance Solutions director Rachel Guill said: “APKWS guidance kits are easy to use, cost-effective and precise, and they seamlessly integrate with existing munitions and platforms.

“Our customers are demanding APKWS because of their extreme precision and mission effectiveness.”

The laser-guided rockets can be easily assembled and enable critical airborne platforms, which include the A-10 Thunderbolt II, AH-64 Apache, AH-1W/Z Super Cobra/Viper, AV-8B Harrier, F-16 Fighting Falcon and UH-1Y Venom, as well as other fixed and rotary wing platforms

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This helps deliver efficient weapons to soft and lightly armoured targets in confined areas, while reducing the risk of collateral damage.

“The combat-proven APKWS laser-guided rockets are cost-effective and help militaries to efficiently face new challenges in densely populated urban battlefields.”

The combat-proven APKWS laser-guided rockets are cost-effective and help militaries to efficiently face new challenges in densely populated urban battlefields.

BAE Systems’ APKWS rockets are currently the only guided 2.75in munitions to be qualified by the US Department of Defense and used by the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Army and US Air Force.

The new deal forms part of a wider $600m indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract that was originally secured by the company last year to address the growing demand for APKWS laser-guided rockets.

BAE Systems also received another deal in June to continue manufacturing the rockets, which is valued at roughly $180.5m.

Image: An artist’s rendering of an Apache helicopter firing an APKWS laser-guided rocket. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.

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