Advanced precision kill weapon system (apkws), United States of America

2. • INTRODUCTION
• Design and warheads
• Guidance and control system
• DEVELOPMENT
• WEAPON SYSTEM

3. • The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)
is a combat-proven, laser-guided 70mm rocket system
designed and manufactured by BAE Systems in
collaboration with the US Government.
• The weapon system is currently deployed by the US
military forces.
• The US Navy signed a letter of offer and acceptance with
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the sale of the
APKWS weapon, as part of a foreign military sale, in May
2014.

5. • The advanced, highly precise APKWS rocket
system features a point-and-shoot design and requires
no maintenance.
• It is capable of engaging stationary and moving enemy
targets with greater flexibility, while offering superior
survivability for the crew.
• The rocket system is equipped with wing assemblies and
folding fins. Each wing is mounted with unique, low-cost
laser seeker collection optics.

7. • The APKWS is fitted with a plug and play compatible
distributed aperture semi-active laser seeker (DASALS)
guidance and control system between warhead and
rocket motor.
• DASALS is used to transform unguided rockets into
precision munitions.
• It allows the weapon system to engage soft and lightly
armoured targets in restricted areas with minimum
collateral damage.

9. • The APKWS development programme was started by the
US Army in 2002 but was cancelled in January 2005.
• The US Army commenced a new development
programme called APKWS II in 2005.
• BAE Systems received the first low-rate initial production
(LRIP) contract from the US Navy in July 2010 and the
second LRIP contract in January 2011.
• BAE Systems received a $28m support from the US
Navy for full-rate production of APKWS rocket systems in
January 2013.

11. • The weapon system was first test-fired from the US
Marine Corps' (USMC) AH-1W Super
Cobra helicopter in September 2007 and from OH-58
Kiowa helicopter in December 2007.
• A Hawker Beechcraft AT-6C aircraft successfully fired
the APKWS rocket in February 2012.
• The US Army and the US Navy conducted test firing
of the weapon system from airborne helicopters at
Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in May 2012.

13. • http://www.army-technology.com/projects/advanced-
precision-kill-weapon-system-apkws/