Navy Deploys New APKWS Design for Fixed-Wing Aircraft
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Navy delivered the first fixed-wing aircraft variant of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) in March 2016 to Marine Attack Squadron 233 operating the AV-8B Harrier in theater, Naval Air system Command said in a March 30 release.
Seven months after receiving a requirement from Marine Corps headquarters, two program offices based at Patuxent River fielded the 2.75-inch rockets equipped with Semi-Active Laser (SAL) guidance capability.
“This capability will provide commanders with a warfighting alternative to better enable weapon-to-target pairing,” said Col. Fred Schenk, AV-8B Harrier Weapon System program manager.
PMA-257 and the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program office worked together to define a two-phase program to quickly field the weapon variant. The first phase expedited fielding of a limited AV-8B fixed-wing APKWS employment flight envelope capability. This included the delivery of 80 guidance kits. The second phase will expand the fixed-wing APKWS employment envelope limits to the maximum extent possible for AV-8B.
“The intent of this requirement was to quickly provide the AV-8B with a low-cost, low-collateral damage, high-precision weapon in support of combat operations,” said Navy Capt. Al Mousseau, Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program manager. “This entire effort showcases what unity of effort among all government and industry stakeholders can accomplish to expediently deliver capability.”
APKWS, a product of BAE, is the only DoD fully qualified 2.75-inch rocket that uses SAL guidance technology to strike targets in built-up and confined areas. The SAL is a laser seeker which allows the system to beam-ride reflected laser energy. The reflected laser energy is sourced by either airborne or ground-based laser designators providing positive target acquisition.