30.09.

2017 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System - Wikipedia

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) also known

as Laser, infrared Guided Rocket (LiGR) is a design conversion of Hydra
70 unguided rockets with a laser guidance kit to turn them into precision-
guided munitions (PGMs).[1] APKWS is approximately one-third the cost
and one-third the weight of the current inventory of laser-guided
weapons, has a lower yield more suitable for avoiding collateral damage,
and takes one quarter of the time for ordnance personnel to load and
unload. As of October 2015, BAE Systems had manufactured 5,000
APKWS units.[2][3]
APKWS missile

Contents
1 Development
2 Design
2.1 Specifications
3 Program status
3.1 Deployment
4 Export
5 Launch platforms
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

Development
Where possible the system utilizes existing Hydra 70 components such as launchers, rocket motors, warheads
and fuzes. The weapon bridges the gap between the Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire systems and provides a
cost-effective method of engaging lightly armored point targets. APKWS is the U.S. governments only
program of record for the semi-active, laser-guided 2.75-inch (70 millimeter) rocket. It converts the Hydra 70
unguided rocket into a precision guided munition through the addition of a mid-body guidance unit developed
by BAE Systems. The APKWS has also been successfully tested in live fire exercises with the Forges de
Zeebrugge (FZ) unguided rocket, converting it into a precision guided munition and demonstrating the
technology can be used on other rocket types than the Hydra 70.[4]

Design
The winning bidder for the APKWS II contract was the team of BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and
General Dynamics,[5] beating out the offerings from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Systems.[6]

The APKWS II uses the Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) technology. 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 allows existing warheads from the Hydra 70 system to be
used without the need for a laser seeker in the missile nose.

The APKWS II system is composed of the launch platform, rockets equipped with the WGU-59/B mid-body
guidance unit, the lengthened 7-tube LAU-68 F/A rocket launcher, the SCS 7 aiming cue (not needed for attack
helicopters), and Fastpack PA-140 and CNU-711/E storage kits for rockets and guidance kits, respectively, to
ensure they are safe in the field. The WGU-59/B mid-body guidance unit is equipped with DASALS seeker
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optics which deploy 0.5 seconds after launch and is attached in between the Mk 66 Mod 4 rocket motor and a
warhead and fuze, which increases length by 18.5 in (47 cm) and weight by 9 lb (4.1 kg) over the legacy Hydra
system. Firing ranges are 1,100-5,000 meters, the former of which can be hit less than 5 seconds after firing.[7]
Maximum range is constrained by use of the existing Hydra 70 motor, but since the seeker can see as far as
14 km (8.7 mi), a more powerful motor could extend range while retaining accuracy.[8]

Specifications

Length: 73.8 in (1.87 m)[9]

Diameter: 2.75 in (70 mm)[10]
Wingspan: 9.55 in (24.3 cm)[10]
Weight: 32 lb (15 kg)[9]
Speed: 1,000 m/s (3,600 km/h; 2,200 mph; Mach 2.9) at max[10]
Range: 1,1005,000 m (0.683.11 mi) (rotary wing); 211 km (1.26.8 mi) (fixed wing)[7][9]
Guidance: Semi-active laser homing
CEP: <0.5 meters[9]
Motor: Existing Hydra 70 motors
Warhead: Existing Hydra 70 warheads
Unit cost: ~ $30,000
APKWS is a plug and play, point and shoot weapon, and is fired like the unguided 2.75-inch rocket.
The weapon is easily assembled and can be shot with minimal instruction, as if it were an unguided
rocket.

Program status
2002: APKWS development test series begins.[11]
April 2005: General Dynamics APKWS program cancelled due to poor test results.[12]
October 2005: Competition re-opened as APKWS II.[12]
September 2005: Successful flight test of BAE APKWS II.[13]
April 2006: BAE Systems selected as prime contractor for the APKWS II program.[14]
February 2007: Funding for program withdrawn in proposed FY2008 budget.[15][16]
May 2007: Successful flight test of BAE APKWS II in production-ready configuration.[17]
November 2008: Transfer of contract from US Army to US Navy.[18]

Deployment

March 2012: APKWS II achieves initial operating capability (IOC) and is sent to Afghanistan with
United States Marine Corps. Plans are to integrate it onto the MQ-8 Fire Scout.[19]
July 2012: BAE Systems receives full-rate production contract for APKWS from the U.S. Navy. The first
FRP deliveries were in October 2012 and the company expected the next FRP option to be awarded by
the end of 2012.[20]
September 2012: The Navy awards a contract to officially integrate the APKWS into the Fire Scout.[21]
October 2012: BAE announces its intention to modify the APKWS II to be fired from fixed-wing tactical
fighter platforms.[22]
January 2013: Additional conversion kits ordered. No in flight failures during the 100 combat launches in
Afghanistan to date.[23]
February 2013: APKWS launched from an A-10 Thunderbolt II. Three sorties were conducted. The first
sortie carried the rocket and launcher, and the second sortie fired an inert, unguided rocket to ensure the
weapon would separate from the aircraft. Two armed rockets were fired during the third sortie from
10,000 and 15,000 feet. The second rocket launched into a 70 knot headwind, and both impacted within
inches of the target. The Air Force is considering using the APKWS II operationally by 2015 if further
testing is successful.[24]
March 2013: APKWS is integrated onto the Bell 407GT.[25]

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April 2013: A UH-1Y Venom fired 10 APKWS rockets at stationary and moving small boat targets,
scoring 100 percent accurate hits on single and multiple targets over water. The engagement ranged from
24 km using inert Mk152 high explosive and MK149 flechette warheads. The UH-1Y had the boats
designated by an MH-60S.[26]
October 2013: APKWS successfully fired from an AH-64 Apache. Eight rockets were fired with the
helicopter flying at up to 150 kn (170 mph; 280 km/h) and up to 5 km (3.1 mi) from the target. Launch
altitudes ranged from 300 ft to 1,500 ft. BAE wants airworthiness qualification on the Apache for
international sales to AH-64 operators.[27]
March 2014: LAU-61 G/A Digital Rocket Launcher (DRL) deployed with HSC-15.[28]
July 2014: BAE reveals that the APKWS has reached Early Operational Capability (EOC) with one
squadron of MH-60S helicopters. The MH-60R will be outfitted within "12-18 months."[29]
August 2014: APKWS tested on Australian Army Eurocopter Tiger at Woomera Test Range. A
helicopter was on the ground and fired seven rockets which successfully hit their targets. The rocket
could enter Australian service by early 2015 on army Tigers and navy MH-60R helicopters.[30][4]
November 2014: APKWS tested on Australian Army, 16 Aviation Brigade, Eurocopter Tigers, this time
airborne, near Darwin. Tests included using APKWS to convert a Forges de Zeebrugge (FZ) unguided
rocket into a laser precision-guided weapon. All 10 rockets struck within a metre of the laser spot.[4]
October 2015: US Army AH-64 Apache helicopters to field weapon in Iraq and Afghanistan.[31]
March 2016: First rocket variants for launch from fixed-wing aircraft shipped to Marine Corps
Harriers.[32]
June 2016: APKWS deployed on USAF F-16 and A-10 as part of an urgent operational
requirement.[33][34]
October 2016: Production rate increased to 5,000 a year.[35]
June 2016-January 2017: 200 APKWS used against ISIL targets, including 60 during the Battle of
Mosul.[36]

Export
On 14 April 2014, the U.S. Navy signed an agreement with the Jordanian Air Force for the first international
sale of the APKWS for use on the CN-235 gunship.[37] Jordan received 110 units in late November 2015.[38]

In November 2014, the State Department approved the sale of up to 2,000 APKWS rockets to Iraq.[39]

In June 2015, a deal to sell 6 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Lebanese Air Force was approved
that included the sale of 2,000 APKWS rockets for use on the turboprops. The US$462 million sale was
financed by Saudi Arabia.[40][41]

Launch platforms
Current rotary wing:[19][25]
UH-1Y Venom
AH-1W SuperCobra
AH-1Z Viper
Bell 407GT
AH-64 Apache[42]
Eurocopter Tiger[4]
MH-60S/R Seahawk[43]
Current fixed-wing
AV-8B Harrier II
OV-10 Bronco
F-16 Fighting Falcon
A-10 Thunderbolt II[33]
Planned rotary wing[25]
MQ-8 Fire Scout
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OH-58 Kiowa (company funded)

V-22 Osprey[44]
AH-6 Little Bird[34]
Planned fixed-wing[25]
A-29 Super Tucano[45]
F/A-18 Hornet[46]
F/A-18 Super Hornet
CN-235[37]

See also
AASM
Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket
Direct Attack Guided Rocket
Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket - Laser
Roketsan Cirit
List of laser articles

References
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useaction=home.display&key=56424953-9562-4734-B373-AAB87ADAB56F). Archived from the
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15. Army Proposes Major Weapons Cuts - military.com (http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,120100,0

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21. BAE Systems to Integrate Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System on MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV (http://w
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mq-8b-fire-scout-uav/) - sUASNews.com, September 18, 2012
22. BAE to demonstrate APKWS on fixed-wing aircraft (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ausa-bae
-to-demonstrate-apkws-on-fixed-wing-aircraft-377943/) - Flightglobal.com, October 23, 2012
23. "BAE gets more work for laser-guided missiles." (http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130116/NEWS0
2/130119466/0/SPORTS21) - Unionleader.com, 15 January 2013
24. A-10 Fires First-Ever Laser-Guided Rocket (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123342831) Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20130701173132/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123342831) July 1,
2013, at the Wayback Machine. - AF.mil, April 3, 2013
25. BAEs APKWS rockets integrated on Bells new Model 407GT (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl
es/baes-apkws-rockets-integrated-on-bells-new-model-407gt-383032/) - Flightglobal.com, March 5,
2013
26. BAEs APKWS rocket validates strike capabilities against maritime targets (http://www.naval-technolog
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Technology.com, April 10, 2013
27. APKWS Laser-Guided Rocket Successfully Qualified on US Army Apache Helicopters (http://www.dea
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n000012045.aspx) - Deagel.com, 22 October 2013
28. Scott, Richard (31 March 2014). "USN adds anti-FIAC capability to MH-60S to meet urgent operational
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tional-need). www.janes.com. IHS Jane. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
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ows-apkws/) - Shephardmedia.com, 17 July 2014
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32. BAE's APKWS rockets go to war on AV-8B Harrier (https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/baes-ap
kws-rockets-go-to-war-on-av-8b-harrier-423724/) - Flightglobal.com, 31 March 2016
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2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
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-16-426192/) - Flightglobal.com, 9 June 2016
35. Stevenson, Beth (19 October 2016). "BAE to up the pace on APKWS production" (https://www.flightglo
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36. US Forces Bank on New Weapon to Protect Civilians in Next Mosul Battle (http://www.military.com/dail
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01_jordan-equips-cn-235-gunship-apkws-2-75-guided-rockets.html) - Defense-Update.com, 1 May 2014
38. Navy delivers first APKWS units to Jordan (http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NA
VAIRNewsStory&id=6135) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141916/http://www.navair.
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41. US approves possible $462M A-29 Super Tucano sale to Lebanon (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art
icles/us-approves-possible-462m-a-29-super-tucano-sale-to-413350/) - Flightglobal.com, 10 June 2015
42. BAE, Raytheon Advance Laser Rocket Business (http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2014
-05-08/bae-raytheon-advance-laser-rocket-business) - Ainonline.com, 8 May 2014
43. Navy outfitting more Seahawks with digital rocket launchers (http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuse
action=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5873) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160904124722/ht
tp://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5873) September 4,
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44. Osprey Fires Guided Rockets And Missiles In New Trials (http://aviationweek.com/defense/osprey-fires-
guided-rockets-and-missiles-new-trials) - Aviationweek.com, 8 December 2014
45. http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/lebanon-29-super-tucano-aircraft Lebanon A-29 Super Tucano
Aircraft] - Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 9 June 2015
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External links
APKWS - BAE (http://www.baesystems.com/product/BAES_027112/advanced-precision-kill-weapon-sy
stem-apkws?_afrLoop=34182645149000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=w0g954apw_1)
Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) - BAE Systems (http://www.baesystems.co
m/product/BAES_019576/distributed-aperture-semi-active-dasals)
Hydra-70 Rockets: From Cutbacks to the Future of Warfare - Defense Industry Daily (http://www.defens
eindustrydaily.com/2006/04/hydra70-rockets-from-cutbacks-to-the-future-of-warfare/index.php)
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System - Defense Update (http://www.defense-update.com/products/a/a
pkws-gd.htm)
Laser Guided APKWS II Rockets for USMC Harrier, Air Combat Commands Warthog - Defense-
Update (https://web.archive.org/web/20110709010314/http://defense-update.com/wp/20110214_apkws2.
html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DefenseUpdate+%28Def
ense+Update%29)
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) - Global Security (http://www.globalsecurity.org/mil
itary/systems/munitions/apkws.htm)
BAE Systems' video of APKWS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqj5fNBBqnA) on YouTube

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