Article Posted on : - Apr 10, 2010

US Navy will deploy Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) from AH-1W Cobra helicopters.

NEW DELHI (BNS): U.S. Marine Corps will initially deploy Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) from AH-1W Cobra helicopters, developed by BAE Systems in partnership with the U.S. government.

APKWS provides aviators with a highly precise weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while minimizing collateral damage.

It is mainly important in urban areas and other situations in which non-combatants or friendly forces are near hostile targets.

�The weapon system, which transforms standard 2.75-inch unguided rockets to smart, highly precise laser-guided missiles, "is a game-changer for our nation's war fighters," said Mike Lewis, vice president and general manager of soldier and vehicle solutions at BAE Systems in a official news release.

"Its demonstrated precision and small warhead mean aviators can prosecute very specific targets from a greater distance without incurring collateral damage. The technology's low weight compared to other precision-guided munitions is critical to mission success on helicopters operating in high-altitude environments," he added.

APKWS is a low-cost alternative to other air-launched munitions currently in inventory.

APKWS can be fired from any helicopter that can launch 2.75-inch rockets. While the initial platform is the AH-1W Cobra, APKWS also has been successfully demonstrated from a U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, it said.