BAE System To Ramp Up Laser-Guided Rockets' Production For US, Allied Nations

BAE Systems has won a $600 million contract from US Navy to speed the supply of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets. 

With an initial award of more than $130 million, the three-year contract will help speed the delivery of these precision guidance rockets to meet the needs of the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Army, and US Air Force, as well as allied nations. 

“This latest contract includes valuable provisions that allow other services and allies to leverage this small guided munitions program of record,” said David Harrold, director of precision guidance solutions at BAE Systems in a statement Wednesday.

“The large demand for this cost-effective technology is a testament to its highly innovative design, and this contract will allow us to greatly increase production.” Harrold added.

To meet this growing demand, BAE Systems has invested in a new facility in New Hampshire that is optimized for precision guidance solutions and designed to meet a significant increase in production. The company expects it will be able to ramp up production to 20,000 APKWS guidance units per year with potential for additional growth.

The APKWS mid-body guidance section converts a standard unguided 2.75-inch (70 mm) munition into a precision laser-guided rocket. A Navy program of record, the system has been in full-rate production since 2012.