The interest of APKWS guided rockets is not limited to Kiowa Warrior or Apache attack helicopters. It also concerns the Air Force. On Wednesday, June 29, a meeting was held at the General Aviation Staff (GAA), between the representatives of the “BAE Systems” company Mr. Chris Roper (Regional Business Development Director) and Mr. Don Riffee (Business Development Manager) with the relevant staff of the GAA. The purpose of the meeting was the company’s presentation of the capabilities of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) it manufactures.
And indeed we had addressed the above issue just last weekend. Since the Greek F-16s will soon regain the ability to autonomously indicate targets with lasers, through SNIPER-type targeting pods (TGP) and since the APKWS II has already been certified for attacking UAVs and Drones (https://defencereview.gr/i-bae-systems-dokimase-me-epitychia-kateythynome/), we see no reason why this weapon would leave the Air Force indifferent.
Finally, the reports that have been made by DefenceReview.gr, regarding the prospect of upgrading the 20 T-6A Texan II trainers that the Air Force has idle, to the AT-6E Wolverine, the low-cost attack aircraft that is considering the USAF and have already been purchased by Tunisia (https://defencereview.gr/tessera-aeroskafi-eggys-ypostirixis-at-6/) and Thailand, include the ability of these aircraft to carry Hydra 70 rocket baskets, in combination with electro-optical turrets that also feature laser pointers.
In an earlier, truly complete and thoroughly detailed DR tribute (https://defencereview.gr/kateythynomenes-royketes-apkws-ii-to-pyrom/) on APKWS II laser-guided rockets, we noted that the Greek Armed Forces have stock greater than 15,000 units. Based on recent developments, executives at BAE Systems Inc. EAS facilities were visited in our country to explore prospective cooperation in the context of a potential upgrade program of part of the quantity of Hydra 70 rockets with the APKWS II collection, at half the cost of purchasing new rockets of this type!
Recently, the British BAE Systems announced that it has completed the development of a new version, with increased range, of the APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II) guided rockets. According to BAE Systems, the new rockets will have a 30% increased maximum range, at 10.4 kilometers, from the current 8. In addition to increasing range, the new APKWS IIs can perform attacks from a closer angle.
For air operations, APKWS have recently been certified on fighters. According to an announcement by the US Marines, the certification of the 70mm APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) guided rockets on F/A-18 Hornet aircraft has been successfully completed. With APKWS certification, the F/A-18s, of the A/B/C/D versions, gain the ability to engage moving targets with precision at distances of up to 11 kilometers.
