BAE Systems Celebrates Groundbreaking Success in Tactical Launch Test of APKWS® Laser-Guided Rockets
Alert: Attempt to access property “post_parent” on null in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-includes/link-template.php on line 479
Alert: Attempt to access property “post_name” on null in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-includes/link-template.php on line 517
Deprecated: rtrim(): Supplying null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 2829
Alert: Attempt to access property “ID” on null in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-includes/link-template.php on line 534
Alert: Attempt to access property “post_excerpt” on null in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-content/themes/mh-magazine/includes/core/Custom-Functions.php on line 281
Alert: Attempting to access array offset on boolean value in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-content/themes/mh-magazine/includes/core/Custom-Functions.php on line 283
Deprecated: ltrim(): Supplying null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4486
Alert: Attempt to access property “post_title” on null in /home/defensea/english.defensearabia.com/wp-content/themes/mh-magazine/includes/core/Custom-Functions.php on line 283
BAE Systems successfully executed test firings of its APKWS® laser-guided rockets from a tactical ground-based weapon system for the first time. The demonstration of this proof-of-concept highlighted the versatility of APKWS rockets to provide standoff precision strike abilities for ground forces, offering warfighters a distinct option for targeting with extended range compared to small arms fire, eliminating the necessity for air support.
BAE Systems conducted the APKWS rocket tests at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground, collaborating with the U.S. Navy and Arnold Defense, a leading maker of rocket launchers. The team employed Arnold’s FLETCHER 2.75-inch/70mm Weapon System concept—a specially designed laser-guided rocket launcher for ground vehicles—to successfully launch multiple rounds. This ground-launch capability expands on hundreds of successful combat launches from rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
“Our clients recognize the advantages of economical, precision-strike capabilities that minimize collateral damage risks and desire the flexibility to operate them from their preferred platform,” stated Greg Procopio, director of Precision Guidance and Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “There is a rising demand for ground-to-ground precision munitions that enable a safe standoff distance for smaller ground units. We are closely partnering with our customers and collaborators to deliver that functionality.”
Ground-launched APKWS rockets provide both mounted and dismounted units with a strategic means to engage soft and lightly armored targets across a wide range of platforms. The compact size, lightweight design, and low power requirements of ground-launched APKWS rockets make them exceptionally suitable for tactical light vehicles, remote weapon systems, non-standard tactical vehicles, and stationary platforms, granting warfighters precision munitions that enhance their safety and operational effectiveness.
“We designed FLETCHER specifically as a ground launcher for precision-guided 70mm rockets,” remarked Jim Hager, president and CEO at Arnold Defense. “FLETCHER-launched APKWS rockets empower our military clients to engage targets from more than just aerial platforms. We foresee FLETCHER employed on various vehicles, from trucks and tracked units to marine platforms in the future.”
APKWS laser-guided rockets represent the sole U.S. government program of record for precision-guided 70-millimeter rockets. All four branches of the U.S. armed services utilize APKWS rockets, which are also accessible to U.S. allies through Foreign Military Sales. FMS initiatives serve over a dozen partner nations along with interest from additional countries.
