BAE Systems awarded $59.5 million U.S. Navy contract

Nashua facility to proceed manufacturing Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits

The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $59.5 million contract for additional Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guidance kits to transform unguided 2.75-inch rockets into laser-guided precision munitions.

“APKWS guidance kits are easy to use, cost-effective, and precise, and they seamlessly integrate with existing munitions and platforms,” said Rachel Guill, director of Precision Guidance Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our customers are demanding APKWS because of their extreme precision and mission effectiveness.”

The new award, which follows a recent contract for $180.5 million, is part of a 2016 indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract for more than $600 million. In a press release, BAE said it has further reduced the per-unit cost for APKWS laser-guided rockets.

In July, BAE Systems delivered its 10,000th APKWS guidance unit. As part of its drive toward annual production of more than 20,000 units, BAE said it continues to invest in its state-of-the-art precision guidance manufacturing facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire and Texas. The company is also working closely with its supply base and has recently qualified several additional suppliers to ensure multiple sources to meet and exceed growing demand.

The “easily assembled” rockets enable critical airborne platforms — including A-10 Thunderbolt II, AH-64 Apache, AH-1W/Z Super Cobra/Viper, AV-8B Harrier, F-16 Fighting Falcon, UH-1Y Venom and other fixed- and rotary-wing platforms — to deliver efficient weapons to soft and lightly armored targets in confined areas while minimizing collateral damage.

The combat-proven, cost-efficient APKWS laser-guided rockets enable militaries to efficiently face new challenges in densely populated urban battlefields, said BAE.

APKWS rockets are the only guided 2.75-inch rockets qualified by the U.S. Department of Defense and are used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force as well as international allies.