BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) contract has been transferred from the U.S. Army to the Department of the Navy. With full funding in place, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps recently assumed the APKWS development contract with BAE Systems to complete System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the rocket-guidance capability.

“APKWS will give troops the ability to engage enemies in an urban environment, minimizing casualties and property damage and allowing helicopter troops to target enemies with increased precision even before opposition forces are aware of engagement,” said Frank Wilson, vice president of precision targeting for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire.

APKWS is a low-cost, low-yield precision munition system that turns a standard 2.75-inch unguided rocket to a smart, laser-guided weapon capable of engaging unarmored and lightly armored targets. The seeker guides the rocket to its target with pinpoint accuracy, ensuring that the intended target is destroyed while minimizing the risk of collateral damage. APKWS requires no aircraft hardware modifications and allows military aircrews to engage targets that were previously off-limits due to the risk of collateral damage.

By the end of 2007, the APKWS program had completed 14 demonstrations with two helicopter platforms involving three separate air crews and various mission scenarios. Development funding will be used for testing and qualification of APKWS for use on the Marine Corps’ AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter.