Laser-Guided Rocket Hits Target
The U.S. Army's Advanced Precision Kill Weapons Systems (APKWS) System Development and Demonstration (SDD) completed its Initial Design Review. The 70 mm APKWs blends the Hydra 70 rocket motor and warhead with a laser seeker and mid-body guidance fins to create a low-cost precision guided missile. Wind tunnel tests in November will refine the flip-out wings for SDD flight tests around May 2004. Low Rate Initial Production in 2005 would give the Army Initial Operational Capability on the Longbow Apache and other air and ground platforms around 2007.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is the prime contractor for the APKWS effort. BAe Systems provides the Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) and mid-body fin-mounted guidance system. Block 1 production rockets would incorporate the existing M151 high explosive warhead. A separate ATD aims to develop blast fragmentation, flechette, and other warhead options for Block II.
The APKWS requirement emerged in 1996. During the Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) phase, a controlled test vehicle hit within 1 m of its target center over a 5.5 km range. The 25-month APKWS SDD began in February 2003. ATD hardware was again fired at Yuma Proving Grounds this August and achieved a direct hit on a laser-designated stationary target 3 km away. A final test with ATD hardware in December will test the APKWS rocket at minimum range to update simulation models and make adjustments to the autopilot for SDD testing in 2004.
SDD rocket hardware will incorporate MILSPEC parts and a revised wing design, according to Carol Frazier, the project manager for aviation rockets and missiles within the Program Executive Office for Tactical Missiles at Redstone Arsenal. Engineers are also considering control actuator improvements and produceability changes. The range impact of guidance hardware on the Hydra 70 rocket is under study but may be addressed with trajectory refinements.
The US Navy is pursuing an advanced IR seeker for rockets but maintains representatives on the APKWS Integrated Product Team.
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