Laser-guided rockets contract won BAE Systems
NewsOctober 20, 2016
ARLINGTON, Va. BAE Systems will supply the U.S. Navy with its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets. The initial contract is worth an estimated $130 million, but if all options are exercised it could bring the value up to $600 million.
BAE Systems invested in a new facility in New Hampshire to meet the demand and company officials expect it will be able to ramp up production to 20,000 APKWS guidance units per year with potential for additional growth. The three-year indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract is expected to help meet the needs of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force, as well as a growing number of allied nations.
Engineers designed the APKWS solution around BAE Systems' proprietary Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker technology. Officials explain, it can transforms a standard unguided 2.75-inch (70 mm) munition into a precision laser-guided rocket. This design requires no modifications to the rocket, launch platform, or launcher system, and it allows militaries to leverage existing infrastructure and munitions investment.
Read more on precision-guided munitions:
U.S. Army procures APKWS laser-guided rockets for AH-64 Apache Helicopters
U.S. Navy completes precision-guided munition flight test with Dual Mode Plus kit
Lockheed Martin selected to deliver Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb kits
