BAE to Expand its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System

BAE Systems will expand its successful Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to fixed-wing aircraft platforms for the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

APKWS, developed by BAE Systems in partnership with the U.S. government, provides aviators with a highly precise weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while minimizing collateral damage - important in urban areas and other situations in which non-combatants or friendly forces are near hostile targets.

The company signed a $19.7 million contract with the Navy for the new, 27-month program, which expands the APKWS application from rotary-wing aircraft to the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and the U.S Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier fixed-wing aircraft.

The contract calls for analysis and prediction of APKWS performance when launched from the fixed-wing platforms as well as any minor design improvements to support the expanded flight envelope of the higher performance aircraft and reduce the recurring product unit cost.

"This important program will culminate in aircraft flight test firings of 16 performance shots, 14 military utility assessment shots, and the delivery of 50 units for further evaluation of enhanced mission capability," said Roy Rumbaugh, program manager for BAE Systems in Nashua, where the APKWS guidance section is built.