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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - BAE Systems
 
 
BAE Systems lands a $618 mn contract for APKWS II delivery
 
The-US based company BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. has been awarded a not-to-exceed $618,343,700 IDIQ contract for the procurement of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II full-rate production Lots 5 through 7 in support of several air forces, the US DoD announced on Oct. 7, 2016.
     
BAE Systems lands a 618 mn contract for APKWS II deliver 640 001 An APKWS fire by an Apache attack helicopter
(Credit: BAE Systems)
     
According to the US DoD, BAE Systems will deliver Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II to the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Air Force, and governments of Iraq, Lebanon, Netherlands, Jordan, and Australia under the Foreign Military Sales program.

This effort will include WGU-59/B units to upgrade the current 2.75-inch rocket system to a semi-active laser guided precision weapon.

"Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (70 percent); and Austin, Texas (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity," the DoD added.

The APKWS II is a design conversion of an unguided Hydra 2.75-inch rocket with a laser guidance kit to give it precision-kill capability. The APKWS II guidance section is threaded between the legacy 10-pound high-explosive war­head and Mk66 Mod 4 rocket motor. Production began in 2011. Successful Initial Operational Test and Evaluation was comple­ted January 2012 on AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters. IOC was declared in March 2012. APKWS is now in Full Rate Production.