BAE Systems lands laser-guided rocket contract

BAE Systems recently won a three-year indefinite deliver/indefinite quantity contract from the U.S. Navy potentially worth $600 million to deliver Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets.

With an initial award of more than $130 million, the contract will allow BAE Systems to more efficiently meet the need for the precision guidance rockets, including supplying them for the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and some allied nations.

“The Navy has been a tremendous partner, and this latest contract includes valuable provisions that allow other services and allies to leverage this small guided munition program of record,” BAE Systems Precision Guidance Solutions Director David Harrold said. “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.”

BAE Systems recently invested in a new facility in New Hampshire, where it expects to be able to produce 20,000 APKWS guidance units each year, with room to increase capacity in the future. The rockets allow for cost-effective, precision hits with limited collateral damage and have been in use by the Marine Corps since 2012. The units are extremely accurate and feature a modular design, allowing them to be customized based on mission needs.