BAE Precision Targeting System Begins Final Testing

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BAE SYSTEMS PRECISION TARGETING SYSTEM BEGINS FINAL TESTING; COMPANY DECLARES SYSTEM READY FOR PRODUCTION
UNITED STATES - 12 NOVEMBER 2009

BAE Systems has entered the final phase of testing on its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a technology that increases the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of airborne weapon systems.

The tests seek to confirm the production readiness of the APKWS rocket and its ability to meet U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps requirements, including safely launching from a helicopter, and reliably acquiring, tracking, and hitting laser-designated targets.

In the most recent testing, a laser-guided rocket fired from a U.S. Marine Corps Cobra helicopter hit a stationary target. This test firing initiated a sequence of more than 20 firings that will comprise the program's final test phase, to be completed by the end of 2009.

"Shooting APKWS is just like shooting a conventional 2.75-inch rocket, except the APKWS goes exactly where it's told to go," said LCDR John "Doc" Dougherty, Navy APKWS deputy program manager.

With completion of this contractor test flight, BAE Systems and the Navy are preparing for Navy demonstration test flights and full government qualification testing. APKWS will enter production in 2010.

"When we enter production, we expect to be the only fully-qualified laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket in the U.S. inventory," said John Watkins, director of missile and munitions solutions at BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire, where the APKWS guidance section is produced. "We are very proud that APKWS will be in the hands of the warfighters next year."

APKWS has hit its targets 18 times since September 2002, including five shots from helicopters involving several air crews and various mission scenarios.

The low-cost, low-yield precision munition system turns a standard 2.75-inch unguided rocket to a smart, highly precise laser-guided missile. Because it uses standard launchers, the system requires no platform integration or aircraft modifications, and the mid-body design of its guidance section enables use of existing warheads, fuses, and rocket motors.

APKWS can be fired from any helicopter that can launch 2.75-inch rockets, including the AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey, OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, and AH-64 Apache.

The Navy assumed acquisition executive oversight of the program in 2008 and has fully funded it for production. BAE Systems has been the APKWS prime contractor since 2006.

Source: BAE Systems


U.S. Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)

The advanced precision kill weapon system uses a form of the semi-active laser seeker known as DASALS™.

The DASALS (distributed aperture semi-active laser seeker) unit is installed between the warhead and the Hydra 70 rocket motor.

BENEFITS OF APKWS

Easily integrated into the logistics and support system
– Simple field installation
– No rocket remanufacturing
– Minimal training required

Plug-and-play kit provides maximum flexibility
– Mates with all existing Hydra-70 hardware
– No hardware modifications required
– No impact to warhead effectiveness

 

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BAE Systems, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps Go 4 for 4 in Testing of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
UNITED STATES - 15 DECEMBER 2009

BAE Systems, in concert with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, scored four hits in four shots during the final phase of integrated testing of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a technology that adds low-cost precision laser guidance to 2.75-inch airborne rockets. Integrated testing seeks to confirm the production readiness of the APKWS system against the full spectrum of system requirements specified by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

In tests during the week of Nov. 23, four guided rockets fired from a U.S. Marine Corps Cobra helicopter hit laser-designated moving and stationary targets. The firings tested the performance of APKWS against a variety of requirements and operational scenarios and the rockets were fired from the helicopter at varying altitudes and airspeeds. Each shot struck well within the required distance from the laser spot.

APKWS has hit its targets 22 times since September 2002, with six helicopters and several air crews involving various mission scenarios.

“Entering integrated test is an important step in confirming that APKWS will meet the needs of its end users,” said Michelle McBride, co-project manager for the Navy’s Airborne Rockets group, which oversees the development of APKWS. “The performance to date demonstrates the system’s maturity and reliability. The Navy is very pleased that APKWS has entered the final phase of testing and that we are nearing a Milestone C decision.”

The Milestone C decision represents the U.S. government’s certification that APKWS is a mature system ready for low-rate initial production. In addition to proving the flight performance of the system, Milestone C requires proof that APKWS will survive the harsh environments it will encounter in theater, that it will not present a safety risk to aviators and ordnance crews responsible for loading and unloading weapons, and that it will not have an adverse impact on the airframe from which it is fired, among other criteria. APKWS is the only laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket undergoing this full U.S. government evaluation.

“This integrated test is the culmination of years of work on behalf of BAE Systems and our government customers to deliver enhanced capability to the aviator,” said Mike Lewis, vice president and general manager of soldier and vehicle solutions for BAE Systems. “APKWS is a mature, reliable, low-cost system that will greatly improve the ability of aviators to engage targets of opportunity while reducing the risk of collateral damage.”

Because it uses standard launchers, the system requires no platform integration or aircraft modifications, and the mid-body design of its guidance section enables use of existing warheads, fuzes, and rocket motors. APKWS can be fired from any helicopter that can launch 2.75-inch rockets, including the AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey, OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, and AH-64 Apache.

The Navy assumed acquisition executive oversight of the program in 2008 and has fully funded it for production. BAE Systems has been the APKWS prime contractor since 2006.


Source: BAE Systems

 

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Marine Aviators Complete Integrated Testing of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, Begin Operational Assessment
UNITED STATES - 29 JANUARY 2010

Aviators from the US Marine Corps completed the integrated test phase of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) program January 5, firing five rounds against stationary and moving targets.

All five shots hit their intended targets within 2 meters of the laser designator’s spot.

In the final series of shots in integrated testing, five laser-guided rockets were fired from a variety of distances from a Marine AH-1W Cobra helicopter. Four of the shots were against moving targets traveling at a range of speeds, while the fifth shot was against a stationary target board.

The program now moves into an assessment of the operational effectiveness of APKWS, which provides aviators with a highly precise, low-yield weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while causing minimal collateral damage. APKWS was developed by BAE Systems and the U.S. government. Operational assessment is planned to include up to eight shots that are designed by Marine aviators to represent conditions that might be encountered in theater.
“During operational assessment, Marine aviators are getting a chance to ‘test drive’ APKWS before it’s deployed to theater,” said Maj. Matt Sale, requirements officer for Marine Corps Aviation Weapons. “These test shots will confirm that APKWS will be highly effective in allowing Marine aviators to prosecute targets while minimizing the risk of harm to nearby friendly forces and non-combatants.”

Operational assessment is the final testing in the APKWS development program. It will demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in a variety of scenarios, platform speeds, ranges, and tactics against different targets.

“This testing is the culmination of a highly successful development effort among BAE Systems, our partners and suppliers, and the US government,” said Roy Rumbaugh, APKWS program manager for BAE Systems. “These shots demonstrate that APKWS will make a real difference in allowing aviators to complete their missions and come home safely.”

APKWS is a low-cost, low-yield alternative to other air-launched munitions currently in inventory. The system transforms a standard 2.75-inch unguided rocket into a smart, highly precise laser-guided missile. Because it uses standard launchers, APKWS requires no platform integration or aircraft modifications, and because it is loaded and fired just like a standard 2.75-inch rocket, very little additional aviator or ordnance crew training is required. Its design enables use of existing warheads, fuzes, and rocket motors, thus protecting government investment in existing inventory.

APKWS has been demonstrated off Marine Cobra and Army Kiowa helicopters, and can be fired from any helicopter that can launch 2.75-inch rockets, including the UH-1 Huey, and AH-64 Apache. The Navy recently announced its intention to investigate, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, the deployment of APKWS from fixed-wing platforms.

The Navy assumed acquisition executive oversight of the program in 2008 and has fully funded it for production. BAE Systems has been the APKWS prime contractor since 2006.


Source: BAE Systems

 

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Marine Aviators Complete Operational Assessment of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System with 8-for-8 Performance
UNITED STATES - 9 FEBRUARY 2010

Aviators from the U.S. Marine Corps have completed their operational assessment of BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, scoring eight direct hits in eight shots in the past two weeks. Operational assessment gives Marine aviators the opportunity to “test drive” the system before it is deployed and confirms that the laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket will meet their needs in combat.

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.

In a series of shots fired during the weeks of Jan. 11 and 18, Marine AH-1W Cobra helicopters flying a variety of scenarios fired laser-guided APKWS rockets at targets typical of those encountered in theater. Live warheads were fitted to the APKWS guidance section, and in day and night tests, the guided rockets struck their laser-designated targets and detonated on impact.

“The APKWS operational assessment has demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in a variety of scenarios involving various targets, platform speeds, ranges, and tactics,” said Maj. Matt Sale, requirements officer for Marine Corps Aviation Weapons. “The system’s reliability has been proven with its 19-for-19 performance in tests, exceeding requirements and expectations. We are confident that APKWS is the right-size weapon for many of our typical engagements and will be highly effective in allowing Marine aviators to prosecute targets.”

The final step in the APKWS development program is system qualification against the envelope of environments in which it might be employed, transported, and stored. That testing is expected to be finalized in time to allow the Navy to complete a production decision within the next 60 days. From there, the system is expected to enter low-rate initial production.

“Any time I have the opportunity to talk to our men and women in uniform, I hear about the pressing need for the capability afforded by APKWS,” said John Watkins, director of missiles and munitions for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire. “This weapon will make a real difference in allowing U.S. warfighters to complete their missions and come home safely.”

APKWS provides the military with a low-cost alternative to other air-launched munitions currently in inventory. The system transforms a standard 2.75-inch unguided rocket into a smart, highly precise laser-guided missile. Because it uses standard launchers, APKWS requires no platform integration or aircraft modifications, and because it is loaded and fired like a standard 2.75-inch rocket, it requires little additional aviator or ordnance crew training. The mid-body design of its guidance section enables use of existing warheads, fuzes, and rocket motors, enhancing the capability of existing inventory.

APKWS can be fired from any helicopter that can launch 2.75-inch rockets, including the AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey, OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, and AH-64 Apache. On Jan. 4, the U.S. Navy published its intent to ask BAE Systems to study the use of APKWS on fixed-wing platforms through a joint cooperative technology demonstration program with the U.S. Air Force.

The Navy assumed acquisition executive oversight of the program in 2008 and has fully funded it for production. BAE Systems has been the APKWS prime contractor since 2006.


Source: BAE Systems

 

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U.S. Navy Declares BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System Ready for Production and Deployment
UNITED STATES - 9 APRIL 2010

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. | BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) has been declared by the U.S. Navy ready to enter production. The decision, known as “Milestone C,” signifies that the APKWS development program has met its objectives and the system is ready to be deployed.

The system will now enter low-rate initial production, with the first systems expected to be fielded later this year.

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 U.S. Marine Corps will initially deploy APKWS from AH-1W Cobra helicopters.

Prior to being declared production-ready, APKWS underwent a rigorous series of flight, component, and all-up-round (completely assembled) qualification tests. The flight tests, which culminated in an 8-for-8 score in a series designed and conducted by Marine test pilots, demonstrated that the system’s accuracy far exceeds government requirements. Throughout its eight-year history of flight tests, APKWS has hit an average distance from the center of the laser spot of less than 0.75 meters against a government specification of 2 meters.

“We have demonstrated APKWS’s maturity by taking it through the full range of operational and environmental challenges it will face in theater,” said Capt. Brian Corey, program manager for the Navy’s direct and time-sensitive strike programs. “APKWS performed like a champ throughout flight tests and will make a significant contribution in allowing aviators to fulfill their missions.”

The weapon system, which transforms standard 2.75-inch unguided rockets to smart, highly precise laser-guided missiles, “is a game-changer for our nation’s war fighters,” said Mike Lewis, vice president and general manager of soldier and vehicle solutions at BAE Systems. “Its demonstrated precision and small warhead mean aviators can target very specific threats from a greater distance without incurring collateral damage. The technology’s low weight compared to other precision-guided munitions is critical to mission success on helicopters operating in high-altitude environments.”

APKWS is a low-cost alternative to other air-launched munitions currently in inventory. Because it uses standard launchers, APKWS requires no platform integration or aircraft modifications, and because it is loaded and fired like a standard 2.75-inch rocket, it requires little additional aviator or ordnance crew training. The mid-body design of its guidance section enables use of existing warheads, fuses, and rocket motors, enhancing the capability of the existing 100,000-unit inventory of unguided rockets.

APKWS can be fired from any helicopter that can launch 2.75-inch rockets. While the initial platform is the AH-1W Cobra, APKWS also has been successfully demonstrated from a U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. The completion of Milestone C allows program offices for platforms such as the Kiowa, UH-1Y Huey, and AH-64 Apache to begin to integrate the weapon for fielding on those platforms. To ensure the safety of aviators and ordnance crews, weapons must be recertified on each additional platform.


Source: BAE Systems