Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) was a developmental program to provide a laser guided missile which would have been compatible with existing Hydra 70 unguided rocket systems in service.

Overview

Where possible the system would have utilised existing Hydra 70 components such as launchers, rocket motors, warheads and fuzes. The weapon would have bridged the gap between the Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire systems and provided a cost-effective method of engaging lightly-armoured point targets.

Design

The winning bidder for the APKWS II contract was the team of BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, [ [http://www.na.baesystems.com/releasesDetail.cfm?a=440 U.S. ARMY SELECTS BAE SYSTEMS FOR APKWS II CONTRACT - BAE] ] beating out the offerings from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Systems. [ [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1730729&C=airwar U.S. Army Picks BAE Missile for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon - defensenews.com] ]

The APKWS II would have shared the Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) technology with the PGMM. This system allows a laser seeker to be located in the leading edge of each of the forward control canards, working in unison as if they were a single seeker. This configuration would have allowed existing warheads from the Hydra 70 system to be used without the need for a laser seeker in the missile nose.

pecifications

* Diameter: 70 mm
* Guidance: Semi-active laser homing.
* CEP: < 1 m
* Motor: Existing Hydra 70 motors.
* Warhead: Existing Hydra 70 warheads.
* Unit cost: ~ $10,000 [ [http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVOnline/default.aspx?Action=-187126550&ID=8b60818e-61eb-460c-8b32-a922e15cb77e BAe says it’s down to the wire - Shephard Group] ]

Program status

* 2002 - APKWS development test series begins. [ [http://www.deagel.com/pandora/apkws-ii_mn00188001.aspx APKWS II - Deagel] ]
* April 2005 - General Dynamics APKWS program cancelled due to poor test results. [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/275in-rockets.html Air-Launched 2.75-Inch Rockets - Designation Systems] ]
* October 2005 - Competition re-opened as APKWS II.
* September 2005 - Successful flight test of BAE APKWS II. [ [http://www.na.baesystems.com/releasesDetail.cfm?a=367 BAE SYSTEMS 70MM LASER-GUIDED ROCKET ACHIEVES TWO DIRECT HITS - BAE] ]
* April 2006 - BAE Systems selected as prime contractor for the APKWS II program. [ [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/04/apkws-ii-hellfire-jr-hydra-rockets-enter-sdd-phase/index.php APKWS II "Hellfire Jr." Hydra Rockets Enter SDD Phase] ]
* February 2007 - Funding for program withdrawn in proposed FY2008 budget. [ [http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,120100,00.html Army Proposes Major Weapons Cuts - military.com] ] [ [http://www.asafm.army.mil/budget/fybm/fy08-09/rforms/vol2.pdf] US Army 2008 R&D Budget Request (Page 4)]
* May 2007 - Successful flight test of BAE APKWS II in production-ready configuration. [cite web|url=http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_10749142322.html|title=BAE SYSTEMS CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL TEST OF ADVANCED PRECISION KILL WEAPON SYSTEM - BAE PR]

References

ee also

* Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket
* Direct Attack Guided Rocket
* Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket - Laser
* Roketsan Cirit

External links

* [http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/eis_s2_apkws.html APKWS - BAE Systems]
* [http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/bae_prod_eis_dasals.html Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) - BAE Systems]
* [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/04/hydra70-rockets-from-cutbacks-to-the-future-of-warfare/index.php Hydra-70 Rockets: From Cutbacks to the Future of Warfare - Defense Industry Daily]
* [http://www.defense-update.com/products/a/apkws-gd.htm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System - Defense Update]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/apkws.htm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) - Global Security]