Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) is a laser-guided, 2.75-inch-diameter rocket system that will provide crews of the Marine Corps' Cobra and U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters with precision-strike capability. BAE Systems won the APKWS SDD contract in April 2006.

Simple, robust, and very low-cost compared to existing weapons, APKWS has been rigorously tested in service labs and flight tested on service ranges. In our seven successful flight tests, we have demonstrated a CEP (circular error probable) of less than one meter. In recent months, the APKWS system and its components have continued to undergo extensive, successful qualification and testing.

The Hydra 70's characteristically high dispersion led the weapon to be regarded as an area weapon. In the past, a number of rockets had to be deployed to ensure a hit on a point target. Today, APKWS transforms the imprecise Hydra 70 into a precision-guided munition with exceptional accuracy at ranges from 1,500 to 5,000 meters. BAE Systems' approach uses a mid-body seeker with a unique wing-mounted Distributed Aperture Semi Active Laser Seeker (DASALS™) sensor array, which allows the use of the Hydra 70 rocket without change. The mid-body approach protects the seeker from the environment and it enables the use of all existing Hydra 70 warheads. BAE Systems' DASALS seeker is compatible with all fielded laser designators.

In flight tests, the BAE Systems APKWS rocket has met short-range and long-range performance criteria and has demonstrated capability against moving targets. A mature development, the BAE Systems APKWS will rapidly provide Marine and Navy warfighters much-needed standoff and precision capability against soft and lightly armored targets.