Successful trial of BAE Systems’ APKWS laser-guided rocket by the Australian Defence Forces
Monday, 13 October 2014 17:53



The Australian Defence Forces recently concluded a highly successful trial of BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS™) laser-guided rocket for use on its Army and Navy helicopters. The ground trial marks the first time the APKWS technology, which transforms a standard unguided 2.75-inch (70-millimeter) rocket into a precision laser-guided weapon, has been demonstrated on a Forges de Zeebrugge (FZ) rocket.

“Through its long track record of success with the U.S. military, the APKWS technology has always been used with a Hydra rocket,” said David Harrold, director of precision guidance solutions at BAE Systems. “This demonstration highlights the unique mid-body design and versatility of the APKWS technology by showcasing the ease of deployment on the FZ rocket and its native launcher.”



During the ground-based live fire event in August, held at the Woomera Prohibited Area test range in South Australia, the APKWS laser-guided technology was on target with all seven shots fired while integrated with the FZ90 rocket motor and warhead. There was no modification required to the guidance kit to integrate with the FZ rocket. Based on the successful test, the Australian Army intends to conduct a live fire flight trial in November that could lead to the APKWS rocket fielding on the Army’s Airbus Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk platforms beginning in 2015.

Conducted by the Australian Aerospace Operational Support Group, the trial was designed to qualify the APKWS rocket for use by the Australian military to bridge the current capability gap between unguided small-diameter rockets and larger-diameter anti-armor munitions. Unlike other available offerings, the flexibility of the APKWS technology allowed the Australian Defence Force to move from concept to live fire trial in a matter of months while using its current rocket inventory and equipment.



“The APKWS laser-guided rocket is an easy-to-use, cost-effective, and flexible system,” said MAJ David Paterson, Rotary Wing Flight Commander of the Australian Army’s Aircraft Stores Compatibility Engineering Squadron. “Delivering this capability to our troops while leveraging existing equipment is a significant accomplishment that will greatly expand and enhance our military helicopters’ mission success.”

BAE Systems is the prime contractor for the APKWS rocket, which is available to international customers through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. Deployed in combat since 2012 by the U.S. Marine Corps, the APKWS rocket is the U.S. Department of Defense’s only fully qualified guided 2.75-inch rocket that uses semi-active laser guidance technology to strike soft and light armored targets.

http://www.airrecognition.com/index....ce-forces.html

AUSA 2014: BAE Systems watch growing APKWS sales as Australia begins tests

Daniel Wasserbly, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
12 October 2014



The Australian Defence Forces have trialled BAE Systems' Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rocket as the company seeks to further expand the systems' international sales.

During Australia's ground trials the APKWS marked its first integration on a Forges de Zeebrugge (FZ) rocket, BAE Systems said in a 13 October announcement at the Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, DC.

APKWS is a semi-active laser guidance kit that the company has integrated with legacy rockets - originally the 2.75 inch (70 mm) Hydra 70 rocket for the US Marine Corps (USMC) - so they can be launched from current airframes and launchers.

According to BAE Systems, "The APKWS laser-guided technology was on target with all seven shots fired while integrated with the FZ90 rocket motor and warhead. There was no modification required to the guidance kit to integrate with the FZ rocket."

The Australian Army is expected to hold live-fire testing in November, and if that is successful the Australians would then consider beginning next year deploying the APKWS for the army's Airbus Helicopter Tiger attack helicopter and the navy's Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk platforms.



APKWS has been used on USMC AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1Y Viper helicopters with an initial operational capability for the two types first declared in March 2012.

BAE Systems also created an APKWS variant suitable for launching from fixed-wing platforms, and that the US government found to have met performance requirements during testing from the US Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-16 Fighting Falcon, as well as the USMC's AV-8B Harrier jump jet.

The US Navy is expected to deploy the APKWS for its MH-60 series maritime helicopters in order to counter small boat swarms.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force is also known to have ordered APKWS guided rockets for its recently received CN235 light gunships (known locally as AC-235s).



http://www.janes.com/article/44367/a...a-begins-tests