The Pentagon has signed an agreement with BAE Systems to ramp up production of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a kit that equips 70-mm unguided rockets with laser guidance. Under the agreement, the U.S. will purchase up to 25,000 kits annually.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of War, the agreement will increase annual production capacity from the current 25,000 sets to 35,000. As is typical for agreements of this kind, implementation is expected to take up to seven years.
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The Pentagon emphasizes that its goal is to ensure stable, long-term demand for BAE Systems' products. This will enable the company to secure long-term supplies of spare parts and expand its workforce.
From Defense Express we would like to note that this will result in the production of 10,000 more APKWS units annually—a 40% increase. At the same time, this means that this will be the minimum number available for export each year.
It is worth noting that in recent months, the U.S. Department of State has approved several potential sales of these rockets: up to 10,000 units to the UAE in October, 5,031 to Italy in August, and up to 10,000 to Saudi Arabia in July. At the same time, the U.S. is actively using APKWS to shoot down Iranian drones, which has significantly depleted its stockpiles.
As a result, existing customers, including Poland, have experienced delays and interruptions in deliveries. It is also important to note that russia produces more than 3,000 jet-powered drones every month, so it will most likely be necessary to further increase annual production and deploy other air defense systems.
It is worth noting that the APKWS has proven its effectiveness in the hands of American and Ukrainian military personnel as an inexpensive means of shooting down drones. Moreover, they can be deployed both from ground-based platforms, such as the Vampire air defense system, and from airborne platforms like helicopters and fighter jets. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have been using these rockets since 2023, and they have been delivering excellent results.
The cost of a single set for the U.S. military could reach $30,000. For foreign customers, the price could be significantly higher, potentially reaching around $90,000. However, this higher figure applies only when the product is sold as part of a package that includes related services, meaning the actual unit price may be lower.
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